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Since the GMT900 was just about the only big truck news for the 2007 model year (2007 model year trucks introduced during the 2006 calendar year), it’s no surprise that the Motor Trend Truck of the Year is the Chevrolet Silverado. Three of the remaining four candidates were also GMT900 stablemates – the Cadillac Escalade EXT, the GMC Sierra and the Chevrolet Avalanche.

The Silverado is certainly a good looking new truck. The interior finally is upgraded to recognize that drivers of big trucks want all the luxe that Large SUV and car owners expect. Taking the challenge from the Ford F-Series (to be replaced for 2008), the Silverado’s upgraded interiors establish a new interior benchmark for large domestic trucks.
Under the skin, the Silverado isn’t really NEW, but a major upgrade to the previous GMT800 which, in itself, was an outstanding vehicle.
Thin Fleld Guaranteed GMT800 (if not the Silverado) the Win – Next Year TUNDRA
But we can’t help but wonder how the results would have stacked up if the upcoming 2007 Toyota Tundra Full-Size Pickup had been in the field? Without Tundra in the mix, this is in some ways a hollow victory. Tundra may have the Motor Trend 2008 Truck of the Year arena all to itself (I guess the Ford Super Duty would qualify) or be competing with the new F-150 if it gets out before December 31, 2007. VehicleVoice’s prediction for the Motor Trend Truck of the Year – Toyota Tundra.
The Motor Trend Press Release for the 2007 Truck of the Year Award can be read below the fold.

Motor Trend Names Redesigned Chevrolet Silverado 2007 Truck Of The Year
Chevrolet Wins with “Everybody’s All-American”
LOS ANGELES, CA (December 19, 2006) — Motor Trend announced that the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado is its 2007 Truck of the Year(TM). The complete report on Motor Trend’s 2007 Truck of the Year will be published in the February issue, available on newsstands January 2, 2007.
“The Silverado impressed us most of all because it is a great reworking of an iconic American vehicle,” said Angus MacKenzie, editor in chief of Motor Trend. “The Chevy pick up truck has been a part of the American automotive landscape for decades. This Silverado takes it into the twenty-first century.”
MacKenzie said the 2007 Silverado is leaps ahead of the vehicle it is replacing, citing a number of measurable improvements in refinement and fuel-economy, such as a 5.3 liter V-8 engine that can shift into V-4 mode for greater mileage per gallon, and an optional interior that offers near-luxury car levels of comfort and equipment. The Motor Trend team also noted a tremendous improvement in perceived quality throughout the new Silverado. The use of upscale materials and thoughtful design details mean the new Silverado now beats some SUVs in terms of fit and finish.
General Motors engineers haven’t forgotten the Silverado often works for a living. The new model offers a choice of cab and bed sizes, plus suspensions and drive trains, to suit a variety of applications. Developed in conjunction with GM’s new GMT900 SUVs, the new Silverado remains truck-tough under its classy sheet metal.
MacKenzie added, “The Silverado offers traditional values people want in a pick-up – it’s rugged, durable and versatile, but it’s also stylish and comfortable. GM has done a good job in understanding that these trucks are not just for work but also for recreation, and it’s done a great job in maintaining the Silverado’s reputation for value – prices have only increased about $300 on most models.”
The 2007 Field of Contenders
The Chevrolet Silverado was one of only five trucks eligible for the Truck of the Year title, and of those five contenders, four (including the Silverado) were GMT900-based vehicles from General Motors.
To be eligible for Truck of the Year, a vehicle must be totally new or redesigned, and released in the 12 months prior to January 1, 2007 (trucks with modifications such as new engines or that are variants of existing models are not eligible). This year’s field of contenders for Truck of the Year included the Chevrolet Avalanche, the Chevrolet Silverado, the Cadillac Escalade EXT, the Ford Explorer Sport Trac and the GMC Sierra.

About the Testing and Evaluation Process
Each year since 1949, the editorial staff of Motor Trend has evaluated eligible vehicles for its “Truck of the Year” based on three key categories: Significance, Superiority, and Value. Significance refers to innovation in engineering, technology, design, safety and packaging. Superiority levels the playing field and looks for class-leading levels of vehicle dynamics and performance, build quality and execution, and how well the vehicle performs its intended function. Finally, the all-important Value question asks, “What does this vehicle deliver in relation to what the consumer has to pay to purchase and own it?”