Chevrolet Avalanche |
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Wikipedia: Chevrolet Avalanche
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History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Chevrolet Avalanche page on 24 September 2018, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Chevrolet Avalanche was a four-door, five or six passenger pickup truck sharing GM's long-wheelbase chassis used on the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade ESV. Breaking with a long-standing tradition, the Avalanche was not available as a GMC, but only as a Chevrolet. Production of the Avalanche started in September 2001 and ended April 2013; producing two generations in its lifespan.
2001–2006
The Avalanche was launched in September 2001 as a 2002 model on the GMT800 platform. First year Avalanches featured light gray plastic body cladding, intended to provide visual distinction from the Suburban/Yukon XL. Avalanche also gave the public an advance look at the next generation of front fascia designs for the entire GM line. A full-length chrome strip splits each lamp assembly and the grille, with a gold Chevrolet "bow tie" in the center. The hood and fenders featured aggressive folds, in contrast to the soft box of the other GMT800 models.
2003 models featured a darker cladding, but GM's new president, Rick Wagoner, demanded removal of this "unpopular" trim (as did certain elements of the public). From mid-year, Avalanche could be ordered without the cladding. The uncladded model, known as the Without Body Hardware (or better by its acronym "WBH"), and alternatively called "slicksides" by GM marketers, resembles the '03-'05 Silverado in the front.
Avalanche was nominated for the North American SUV of the Year award and was Motor Trend magazine's SUV of the Year for 2002.
2007–2013
The GMT900 Avalanche was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2006. Production of the redesigned Avalanche began at the Silao Assembly in April 2006. The Avalanche maintained the styled front end much like its sister vehicles, the Tahoe/Yukon and Suburban/Yukon XL, yet it still had the distinct midgate and integrated bed as found on the previous incarnation. It had all the same standard and available features as the Suburban and the Tahoe. The 2500 model of the previous generation was discontinued.
A special Z71 package was offered for the second generation Avalanche. This off-road package consisted of a suspension tuned for rough terrain, an exclusive automatic locking rear differential, aluminum under body skid plates (visible from the front of the SUV), wheel flares, badges, wheels and tires.
Later models introduced another version of the Vortec 5.3-liter V8 as the engine is now capable of running on E85 ethanol. When the 5.3 is running on normal gasoline, it produces 320 horsepower (240 kW) and 335 pound-feet (454 N⋅m) of torque whereas its output rises to 326 horsepower (243 kW) and 348 pound-feet (472 N⋅m) of torque on E85, up from 310 horsepower (230 kW) and 335 pound-feet (454 N⋅m) in 2009. For the 2010 model year, the 6.0-liter was dropped from the Avalanche lineup which left the 5.3 V8 as the only engine available for the SUV. In its final year, the 6.0-liter produced 366 horsepower (273 kW) and 376 pound-feet (510 N⋅m) of torque.
A 2007 Avalanche was given away to the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Michael Young.
| Date | Document Name & Details | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| February 2003 | Advanced Air Bag Investigation / Vehicle to Vehicle 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |  PDF - 570KB - 21 pages |
| March 2003 | On Site Certified Advanced 208 Complaint Investigation / Vehicle to Vehicle 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche K1500 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 1,584KB - 21 pages |
| April 2003 | Veridian Remote Advanced 208 Compliant Vehicle Crash Investigation Vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 729KB - 14 pages |
| May 2003 | General Dynamics Remote Certified Advanced Compliant Vehicle Crash Investigation SCI Technical Summary Report Vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 174KB - 15 pages |
| June 2003 | SCI 1 On-Site Certified Advanced 208-Compliant Vehicle Crash Investigation Subject Vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 328KB - 12 pages |
| February 2004 | General Dynamics On-Site Certified Advanced 208-Compliant Vehicle Crash Investigation Subject Vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 234KB - 25 pages |
| October 2006 | Not-in-Traffic Surveillance Calspan On-Site Backover Injury Investigation Vehicle: 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 1,347KB - 24 pages |
| December 2003 | Calspan On-Site Certified Advanced 208-Compliant Vehicle Crash Investigation Vehicle: 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 371KB - 20 pages |
| June 2004 | On-Site Certified Advanced 208-Compliant Vehicle Investigation Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 614KB - 20 pages |
| 10 December 2007 | Safety Compliance Testing for FMVSS 126 (Indicant): Electronic Stability Control Systems 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | PDF - 6.9MB - 63 pages |
| Type & Item # | Name | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Die Cast x2 - 15080-1601 | 2001 Chevrolet Suburban/2002 Chevrolet Avalanche | Small scale, silver Suburban & dark red Avalanche |
