Chevrolet ends Avalanche production with a special Black Diamond edition

To mark the last model run of its unique one-of-kind multi-purpose purpose vehicle, Chevrolet is commemorating the vehicle with the 2013 Black Diamond Avalanche. This special edition adds new standard features to the LS such as power-adjustable pedals, remote vehicle starter system, foglamps and rear parking assist. Both LS and LT come with new standard features such as matching body-color exterior components and a rear vision camera system. All of the above listed features remain standard on LTZ. And the best news of all - the Black Edition offers a lower pricepoint, where the base has been trimmed by $2,500, translating to a base MSRP of $35,980 (which excludes a $995 destination fee.)

Originally presented in concept form at the 2000 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Avalanche and its badged engineered clone, the Cadillac Escalade EXT, were created off the Suburban GMT800 platform. The Avalanche proved to be so unique that it was named Motor Trend Magazine’s Truck of the Year for 2002.

Among its unusual features includes a ‘midgate’ which allows an expanded cargo area by folding down the rear seats and mid-gate and removing a rear glass panel, opening the cab to the elements. In addition to creating thermoclines in the cab as air-conditioning and heating fought the great outdoors, early midgate systems had problems with leaks, making the Avalanche and Escalade easily accessable to thieves.

Another significant problem was the unsightly bleaching of the applied body cladding. Shortly after its debut, cosmetic problems with the body cladding started to appear. Exposure to heat and sunlight over time created a chalky faded appearance. It was especially noticeable on the cargo bed panels and sail-panel windows. Complaints resulted in GM trying a product called ArmorDillo, which temporarily restored the cladding for a period of about 6 months. Realizing this was not a permanent solution, GM, with Gatorback Coatings, jointly developed a coating that could be applied to the cladding to restore it to a like-new shine. This product was designed to etch into the plastic and bond a new layer of tinted acrylic over the faded plastic. Customers under factory warranty could have the cladding restored under GM TSB:04-08-111-001C. With all the technological issues, plus buyer’s negative reaction to the cladding, GM offered a delete option which first appeared on the 2003 Avalanche. For the 2007 update the cladding was discontinued altogether.

The Chevrolet Avalanche was one of the earliest forays into re-inventing the traditional pickup truck. While maintaining a traditional truck image it capabilities was more versatile for the person buying it for personal use more than work – a lifestyle truck more than a work truck. However more simplistic and variations followed the Avalanche’s lead, such as the 2001 Ford F-150 SuperCrew, followed by the 2002 Dodge Ram Quad Cab and others.

The Avalanche was intended to help General Motors end Ford’s long reign as the best selling pickup. While aggregate sales of the Avalanche, Escalade, Silverado and GMC Sierra often exceeded sales of the F-150, the Avalanche itself was usually more successful in cannibalizing Silverado sales than generating conquests from Ford and Dodge.

Through March 2012 Chevrolet has sold more than 589,719 Avalanches. Sales peaked at 93,482 in 2003 then gradually decline from there. Despite a 2007 redesign sales plummeted by 37.0 percent in 2008, followed by a complete off the cliff nosedive in 2009, with sales totaling 16,432. However in its defense sales of all trucks and SUVs were in the toilet during this time due to the start of the economical collapse with over four buck a gallon gasoline.

With automotive industry back to a point of stabilization sales have actually risen, but not to the detriment of Silverado and Sierra crew cab sales. So with that the market can no longer justify the development of a replacement. GM’s other truck models, which include the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban, as well as the GMC Sierra and Yukon/XL are scheduled to receive a complete update, debuting as early 2014 models.

Looking back the Avalanche and Escalade had a positive impact on the full-size pickup market, making the crew cab body style more popular than previously was the case. Crew cabs currently account for a majority of full-size pickup sales. They’ve become popular with families whose needs seating capacity far outweigh a pickup’s utilitarian usefulness.

As expressed best by Mike Clawson, Avalanche program marketing manager, “We know there are many Avalanche enthusiasts among Chevy customers. The Black Diamond Avalanche is our way of saying ‘Thank you’ and making it just a little more attractive to own one more Avalanche.”

Courtesy of examiner.com