Video: GM produces HD pickup truck comparison tests

Chevy Silverado HD Truck Shootout – Click above to watch the video after the break

Back in the fall, our friends over at Pickuptrucks.com pitted the diesel-equipped Chevrolet Silverado HD against the oil-burning Ford Super Duty in a battle of high-altitude acceleration. Even though the Ford behemoth holds a slight edge in horsepower and torque, the Chevrolet beat the Blue Oval machine handily in the steep-grade acceleration challenge. We'd think General Motors would be satisfied with the results, but apparently The General needed to go a step further.

GM hired independent testers from AMCI to once again put up the Silverado HD against the Ford Super Duty, and this time the Ram HD was also invited along. Naturally, GM recorded the whole thing. The three trucks battled it out with a pair of 0-60 competitions, including one with a 1,500-pound payload, and again on a seven-percent grade with a 3,000-pound payload. That's only the beginning, as the three trucks duked it out for supremacy in trailer sag, frame rigidity, passing power and braking. Since GM is broadcasting all seven competitions with a glut of Youtube videos, you can probably guess which truck reigns supreme. Still, the videos are entertaining and they're hosted by the one and only Howie Long.

Hit the jump
to watch all seven videos, followed by the GM press release. You'll have to sacrifice about 30 minutes of your life to watch all seven, so if you want to pick and choose, we'll go ahead and tell you that the two 0-60 tests are our favorites.

[Source: General Motors]



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DETROIT -- Chevrolet takes the heavy-duty pickup battle to the test track – and the mountain roads – in "HD to HD," a video series that pits 2011 Silverado HD pickups against the competition in real-world tests of capabilities that matter to real-world truck buyers.

"We wanted to get away from spec-sheet comparisons and show how these trucks perform in the real world," said Rick Spina, global vehicle line executive for full size trucks. "To do so, we engaged an independent company to test the Silverado HD with the Duramax diesel and Allison transmission head-to-head with the competition, and record those tests for everyone to see."

The tests include acceleration, passing, and braking tests, all conducted with a loaded bed, or in some cases, a loaded trailer. Other tests measure the effectiveness of the exhaust brakes on long downgrades and the stiffness of the frames during twist-ditch simulations. Competitors were diesel-powered 2011 Ford Super Duties, and in some tests, 2011 Dodge Ram HDs.

For example, in a zero-to-60 test of three-quarter ton models with a 1,500-pound load, designed to simulate merging onto a busy freeway, the Silverado 2500HD outpaced the F-250 Super Duty, 7.66 seconds to 8.36 seconds, despite the slight advantage in published horsepower and torque ratings for the Ford.

"We worked hard on the Duramax-Allison combination to deliver torque smoothly throughout the entire power band," said Spina. "That is what gives us class-leading acceleration."

Silverado HD pickups showed a similar advantage in acceleration tests on a 7-percent grade, and in passing tests at both sea level and at 6,000 feet while towing loaded trailers.

For additional details on the tests, please refer to the "HD to HD" Video Summaries.

Spina hosts the videos with Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long. AMCI Testing, an independent company used by many carmakers, was engaged by Chevrolet to conduct and certify the tests.

Silverado HD's real-world performance helped make it the Motor Trend's 2011 Truck of the Year.

The full set of "HD to HD" videos can be viewed at chevrolet.com/hd-to-hd-truck-comparison.

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