Many people know General Motors as one of the largest multinational manufacturing companies in the world. They own brands like Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac. However, GM also has another subsidiary most people may not know about, GM Defense.
GM Defense focuses on building military vehicles and related equipment for the global military/defense sector. It has made various military vehicles in the past, and has just unveiled one of its latest projects. This will be a next-generation tactical prototype that is based on one of GM’s current vehicles.
A Tactical Vehicle Based On The Chevy Silverado 2500 ZR2
GM Defense just unveiled a prototype for its new tactical defense vehicles, and it looks like a boxy version of the Hulk that could survive an apocalypse, but it is built on a Chevrolet truck platform. This military vehicle is based on the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD ZR2, which is the off-road version of Chevy’s heavy-duty pickup truck. It has been converted to this mean-green machine that will come with an electric powertrain.
Yes, this giant military vehicle is powered by electricity, but it is not a pure EV but a hybrid. Military vehicles usually make use of diesel engines because of their high-end torque and less fuel consumption. The Silverado 2500HD ZR2 has an optional 6.6-liter Duramax engine making 470 horsepower and 975 pound-feet of torque. That engine has been swapped out for a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel, paired with a 12-module battery pack and electric motors at the front and rear.
This tactical vehicle will be powered by electric motors but will use the diesel engine as a range extender to keep the battery charged. There are no power figures available for the Next Gen defense vehicle since this is still a prototype, but the on-board diesel engine makes 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 RPM. Having this setup has a lot of benefits for the Next Gen tactical vehicle.
Advantages Of The Next-Gen Tactical Vehicle
The powertrain setup is one of the biggest advantages of this vehicle, since it isn’t noisy like a conventional diesel truck, which aids silent driving when not in use. It is a perfect vehicle for silent operation, it can serve as exportable power for appliances and mostly eliminate range anxiety. You also need less fuel, lower maintenance, and fewer parts to keep this vehicle running.
According to GM Defense, these are the tactical advantages of the Next Gen:
- Silent Drive and Silent Watch, enabling low acoustic and thermal signatures.
- Exportable power capable of charging mission systems.
- Tactically significant range with extended mission duration.
- Designed to be autonomy-ready with manned and unmanned options.
- Add-on armor capable.
The Next Gen will be offered in two-, four-, or six-seater configurations and will primarily serve as a support vehicle. It will also be packed with the latest technology needed to make missions easy.
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