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Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra could get independent rear suspension

The Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra could reportedly receive a variant of the four-link independent rear suspension found under the new Tahoe and Suburban. While that's not a surprise, a recent report suggests electrification, not comfort, convinced General Motors to make the change. Replacing the time-tested solid rear axle with an independent suspension will improve comfort, handling and off-road prowess, while adding weight, and likely making the trucks a little bit more expensive. It's a fair trade-off, but GM Authority learned the real reason for the swap is that at least one of the pickups will spawn an electric model, and it's more difficult to package a bulky battery pack around a solid rear axle. The independent rear suspension takes up far less space, even if it has more moving parts. General Motors will build its first regular-production electric pickup on an evolution of the Silverado's T1 platform named BT1, according to the same source. The b stands for -- you guessed it -- batteries. The firm reportedly doesn't want to make two suspensions for cost reasons, so the independent setup will come standard regardless of whether the truck runs on gasoline, diesel, or electricity. As a bonus, Chevrolet and GMC could choose to offer their T1-based trucks with Magnetic Ride Control or an air suspension, options available on the 2021 Suburban and Tahoe. The independent rear suspension will also find its way to the next-generation GMC Yukon due to be revealed January 14, and to the 2021 Cadillac Escalade scheduled to make its debut February 4. The long-rumored, born-again Hummer will get it, too, because it will arrive as an electric model built on the BT1 platform. It's worth noting none of this is official, and General Motors has remained quiet about what's next for its new suspension design, and what will be under its electric truck's sheet metal. If the GM Authority report is accurate, the Silverado (pictured) and the Sierra could ditch their solid rear axle for the 2021 model year. The change will likely be accompanied by other tweaks inside and out. Featured Gallery 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 View 16 Photos Chevrolet GMC Truck

Recharge Wrap-up: Elio TV ads, Waivecar free EV carsharing

Waivecar is a new carsharing service that allows users two free hours of EV driving. The rentals are paid for with advertising, and each Chevrolet Spark EV in the fleet has an ad board affixed to its roof. So, while the driver enjoys free use of the car, the organizations buying the ads get exposure wherever the user goes. Drivers pay $5.99 per hour past the first two free hours of use. The company is undergoing a three-month trial in Venice Beach and Santa Monica before considering possible expansion. "We're giving to the lower-income people that need cars," says Waivecar CEO Isaac Deutsch. Read more at Green Car Reports. Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller is calling for a reworking of European emissions testing. He feels it is time to adapt the tests so that lab results more closely reflect those of real-world driving. "The industrywide discrepancies between official test results and actual usage is no longer tolerable," says Mueller. "We, the industry, need to take a new path." He also says he will make VW more environmentally friendly, and that the automaker plans to roll out 20 new electric vehicles by 2020. Additionally, Mueller is urging politicians to support the building of charging infrastructure. Read more at Bloomberg Business. Elio Motors has launched its first television ad campaign. The 30- and 60-second spots for the three-wheeled EV are titled "Own The Future," and will air on a variety of cable networks including ESPN, Fox News and National Geographic. "Our grassroots and digital efforts have helped create a strong – almost rabid – enthusiasm for our vehicle," says Elio Motors Founder and CEO Paul Elio. "As our funding situation continues to make progress, we are now in a position to share our message and create more fans through this national advertising campaign." Read more in the press release below. Elio Motors Continues Momentum with Launch of First National Television Advertising Campaign PHOENIX, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Elio Motors (www.eliomotors.com) today announced it has launched its first national television advertising campaign to continue building consumer awareness for the company's three-wheeled vehicle that is expected to get up to 84 MPG and sell for a targeted base price of $6,800. The company, which anticipates production to launch in late 2016, has already gained an enthusiastic following through grass-roots events and digital marketing.

Driving the Toyota Tacoma, BMW 430i and Chevy Corvette Convertible | Autoblog Podcast #671

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by West Coast Editor James Riswick and Road Test Editor Zac Palmer. First, they talk about driving the Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road (equipped with a TRD Lift Kit), Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2-Dor, BMW 430i xDrive, Chevy Corvette Convertible and Chevy Suburban with the Duramax diesel engine. They discuss the news, including Toyota's desire to differentiate the 86 from the BRZ, the new Jeep Magneto concept and Greg's opinion piece on why Stellantis needs Chrysler. Last, but not least, they dig into the mailbag to help a listener figure out how to replace their Honda S2000 and Honda Fit. Autoblog Podcast #671 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars We're Driving 2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 2021 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 2 Door 2021 BMW 430i xDrive 2021 Chevy Corvette Convertible 2021 Chevy Suburban Duramax diesel News Toyota 86 reportedly delayed to differentiate it from Subaru BRZ Jeep Magneto: Electrifying the Easter Jeep Safari with a Wrangler EV Why Stellantis needs Chrysler Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related Video: Podcasts BMW Chevrolet Chrysler GM MINI Toyota Truck Coupe SUV Diesel Vehicles Luxury Off-Road Vehicles Performance