Spied: 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe

GM’s body-on-frame full-size SUVs have been around for a while. The Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade have gone largely unchanged since their debut in 2007 – nearly an eternity as far as vehicle life cycles go. With the competition stepping their game up, GM’s hard at work on replacements for the Tahoe, Yukon, and Escalade, and our spy photographers recently caught proof of that hard work in the form of a 2014 Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon test mule roaming around the outskirts of GM’s Milford Proving Grounds.

Despite what the blacked-out oval mounted in the grille may have you thinking, this tester’s other design cues reveal it’s clearly the work of the Bowtie boys. Up front, the next-gen Tahoe gets a grille that looks influenced slightly by the 2014 Impala, with the addition of a strong horizontal bar slashing though the center, similar to the design element that has adorned Tahoe and Suburbans as far back as the early 1970s. Some other styling cues we can pick up from this heavily camouflaged mule include a completely new front bumper, the return of the prominent tow hooks, and the presence of front (and rear) parking sensors on this tester. One thing this Tahoe mule doesn’t reveal, though, is its headlights. Although it wears pre-production stand-in headlights, the 2014 Tahoe’s headlights will probably be smaller and likely featured LED running lamps.

From its side and rear profiles, we can tell the next-gen Tahoe will be boxier and more sharply styled than its somewhat-rounded predecessors. The 2014 Tahoe will get a new rear spoiler with an LED center-mounted stop light, and a tailgate that’s more square-cut than before. A glimpse at the rear also reveals this body-on-frame behemoth will likely retain its solid-rear axle.

Though details on the 2014 Tahoe’s powertrain remain scarce, the Tahoe will remain available in two- or four-wheel drive, and more than likely have a six-speed automatic transmission, with an eight-speed automatic transmission available sometime after launch. Engine options will more than likely include a direct-injected version of GM’s 6.2-liter V-8, as well as a 5.3-liter or 5.5-liter direct-injected V-8. The Chevy, GMC, and Cadillac will all ride on a shortened version of the 2014 Silverado/Sierra chassis, codenamed “K2UC” for the Chevy, and “K2UG” for the GMC. The Cadillac’s codename isn’t yet known.

Thanks to: Motor Trend