Gallery » Chevy Avalanche WITH Body Cladding 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Soon after the release of the Chevrolet Avalanche, customers began to notice appearance issues with the cladding on their vehicles. Exposure to heat and sunlight would cause a chalky faded appearance. GM did not use side body cladding on the second generation model.
Soon after the release of the Chevrolet Avalanche, customers began to notice appearance issues with the cladding on their vehicles. Exposure to heat and sunlight would cause a chalky faded appearance. GM did not use side body cladding on the second generation model.
The Avalanche was originally marketed as being able to "change from a SUV to a super SUV". This was made possible by a plastic cover and an exclusive "midgate" which could open and close. The midgate was a divider behind the second row of seats that could be folded down, with the seats, to create a longer bed area, or folded up to make a larger cab area. A similar midgate was found on the Cadillac Escalade EXT, Hummer H2 SUT and the GMC Envoy XUV.
The Chevrolet Avalanche was a four-door, five or six passenger pickup truck sharing GM's long-wheelbase chassis used on the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade ESV (extended). Breaking with a long-standing tradition, the Avalanche was not available as a GMC, but only as a Chevrolet. Production of the Avalanche started in September 2001 and ended April 2013; producing two generations in its lifespan.
The Avalanche was launched in September 2001 as a 2002 model on the GMT800 platform. First year Avalanches featured light gray plastic body cladding, intended to provide visual distinction from the Suburban / Yukon XL. Avalanche also gave the public an advance look at the next generation of front fascia designs for the entire GM line. A full-length chrome strip splits each lamp assembly and the grille, with a gold Chevrolet "bow tie" in the center. The hood and fenders featured aggressive folds, in contrast to the soft box of the other GMT800 models.
2003 models featured a darker cladding, but GM's new president, Rick Wagoner, demanded removal of this "unpopular" trim (as did certain elements of the public). From mid-year, Avalanche could be ordered without the cladding. The uncladded model, known as the Without Body Hardware (or better by its acronym "WBH"), and alternatively called "slicksides" by GM marketers, resembles the '03-'05 Silverado in the front.
Avalanche was nominated for the North American SUV of the Year award and was Motor Trend magazine's SUV of the Year for 2002.
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