2015 Tahoe & Suburban to get Z71 package

[David]

In searching GM.com and Chevy.com one would hope to find these nuggets, but GMAuthority is stating that the 2015 Tahoe and Suburban will get a dedicated Z71 package much like the Silverado lineup.

 

This comes from the press release photo of the hands free tailgate image.

 

Confirmation was done by them here.

[A Horse With No Name]

Good news!

[ocnblu]

...a Z71 with street tires and no wheel flares, photographed in suburbia with a soccer mom kicking her foot like it's an Escape to open her liftgate while she holds a suitcase... how SAD IS THAT? 

[A Horse With No Name]

You would have preferred a Ford Raptor competitor?

[ocnblu]

I would have preferred something with added perceived toughness, via some trim parts and a more aggressive tire, like Z71 SUVs of yore.

[A Horse With No Name]

Fair enough!

Edited August 30, 2014 by A Horse With No Name

[A Horse With No Name]

Fair enough!

Damn double post...

[SAmadei]

I would prefer it if the Tahoe could be optioned with a Silverado-like front end.
 

[Drew Dowdell]

I thought Z71 was just a suspension and towing package. I never saw them as more aggressive than their non-Z71 counterparts.

[GMTruckGuy74]

In the late '90s ('99 I think) Chevy Tahoes gained an aggressive looking Z71 package that continued in 2001-2006.  I think the package was toned down slightly for 2007-2014 models but it appears the 2015 pacjage will be suspension and decals only.

 

 

 

[Drew Dowdell]

But that was only on the Tahoes I guess... The Avalanche and 'Burban Z71 didn't look any different

[David]

Z71 while a cool underpinning package, should be a more aggressive looking package also. Z71 should be the best bits from the Hummer world in a package that allows for a competitor to the Raptor from Ford. IMHO

[GMTruckGuy74]

But that was only on the Tahoes I guess... The Avalanche and 'Burban Z71 didn't look any different

 

No, the 2001-2014 Suburban Z71s looked just like the Tahoes (there was no Z71 package on the Suburban in 1999; just the suspension option).  The 2006-2013 Avalanche also had the same Z71 appearance package; I'd argue the 1st gen Av had an offroad look with its body hardware package (cladding).  The Av 'WBH' (without body hardware) was a strange looking rig!!

 

All said, I'm hoping that the 2015 Z71 Tahoe & Suburban have some additional bodywork on them to differeniate them from non-Z71 models and also give them a beefier look for what is supposed to be an offroad package.  I don't have high hopes though!!

Edited September 18, 2014 by GMTruckGuy74

[Drew Dowdell]

Yeah, but my point was that the AV would some with that body hardware regardless of whether it was a Z71 or not.   The WBH Av was a Lutz change that was made starting in mid-2004 for people who didn't like the cladding (he did the same with the Aztek)

[ocnblu]

Well, with the Aztek, all he could do is paint the cladding to match the body.  Cladding was an integral part of the bodywork on the Aztek, as it was on the original Avalanche.  I guess they didn't feel like retooling the Aztek bodywork like they did with the Av, although, come to think of it, it was only the quarter panels that were new... it had a pickup front end and Suburban doors.

[Drew Dowdell]

I don't think they even re-engineered it... it's just different snap in pieces that are a more subdued shape and painted body color.

[ocnblu]

The rear quarters are welded parts, everything else different on the "clean" version was bolt-on though, and easy to change.

[Camino LS6]

WBH were the only good-looking Avs. I loved the concept, but hated the cladded look.