Chevrolet is launching its first-ever police pursuit-rated pickup, the 2023 Silverado Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV). It's in crew-cab, short-bed form and of course is equipped with four-wheel drive. The automaker says it's designed for high speeds and dynamic capability with the added comfort and storage capacity needed for an everyday patrol vehicle. Chevrolet first introduced the police pursuit package on the Tahoe PPV that started serving law enforcement in 1997.
“We are constantly having conversations with customers and evaluating how we can better meet their needs,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president of GM Fleet. “Our 25 years of engineering Tahoe police pursuit vehicles coupled with Chevrolet’s 100 years of truck success, puts us in a great position to deliver a truly capable Silverado PPV for our customers.”
Powertrain
The Silverado PPV shares its 355-horsepower 5.3L V-8 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission with the Tahoe PPV. Both vehicles are also equipped with six-piston Brembo brake front calipers with 16-inch rotors for increased brake durability. Chevrolet says performance is optimized with a standard heavy-duty engine air filter.
Features and Options
The Silverado PPV features a certified speedometer, 20-inch black steel wheels borrowed from the Tahoe PPV and 20-inch Goodyear all-terrain speed-rated tires. It's turning radius is an impressive 46.9 feet.
It can also tow up to 9,300 pounds so it's capable of transporting trailers for marine and mounted divisions. Off-roading too is no problem with standard:
- Rancho shocks, included with the Silverado’s proven Z71 off-road package
- Locking rear differential
- Skid plate
There's also an available 2-inch lifted suspension that gives the Silverado PPV best-in-class 11.35-inch ground clearance and increases approach angle to an impressive 25.9 degrees.
Additional specialty equipment made for easy upfitting is also available, including:
- Auxiliary wiring circuits for easy installation of wiring to connect the truck’s horn and siren.
- Surveillance Mode circuit that allows an upfitter to easily install lighting control. Once a third party installs the wiring, the circuit enables control over the truck’s exterior and interior lighting, allowing for discretion while on patrol.
- Five upfitter switches for simple linking to the controls used most frequently.
- Optional deletion of front center seat so departments can customize the cockpit of their vehicle to meet their needs.
- LED or halogen spot lamps.
Chevrolet says to help reduce customer costs and upfit time, the truck is equipped with standard head and taillamp flashers.
The Silverado PPV features remote keyless entry, standard push to start and a standard column shifter. Power cloth seats and heavy-duty vinyl flooring and rear seats (for easy cleaning) are available. Interior configurable storage options give customers 129.8 cubic feet of combined interior volume.
One 220-amp alternator and two 120-volt outlets help devices stay powered while away from the base. An optional upfitter switch bank is also available with three 30-amp and two 20-amp circuits for emergency equipment.
An available hard tri-fold tonneau cover for the 5-foot 8-inch truck bed provides weatherproof storage for any cargo that should be stored separate from the interior cab for officer safety. Twelve welded tie-downs in the truck bed are standard and Chevrolet's multi-flex tailgate is optional.
Safety
Chevrolet Safety Assist package includes Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Following Distance Indicator, Automatic Emergency Braking and Front Pedestrian Braking. Departments can opt for IntelliBeam headlamps that automatically operate high beams at speeds above 12 mph until the system detects an approaching vehicle’s headlamps or a preceding vehicle’s taillamps.
Other available safety features include:
- Protected idle
- Adaptive cruise control
- Rear Park Assist
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking
- Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
Availability
The 2023 Silverado PPV and the Special Service Vehicle will be available beginning late summer 2022 in the U.S. and Canada.
Photo Credit: Chevrolet.