U.S. government gives GM $36.4 million to develop 10 heavy-duty Suburbans

General Motors Defense has secured a lucrative contract to provide the United States Department of State with 10 examples of a purpose-designed heavy-duty Chevrolet Suburban. The initial deal is worth $36.4 million.

Full details about the truck weren't released, partly because it's still at the embryonic stage of development and partly due to the sensitive nature of the project, but General Motors Defense described it as a heavy-duty Suburban built largely with off-the-shelf components. Chevrolet no longer offers a heavy-duty Suburban, though it has in the past, so reading between the lines suggests the SUV will be related to the Silverado HD under the sheet metal.

General Motors Defense explained it will design a new body-on-frame chassis and a new suspension system to help the Suburban cope with the rigors of government service. The model will consequently offer a higher payload capacity and additional ground clearance, features that have characterized the Suburban HD in the past. Most of the body, exterior panels, drivetrain, interior and brakes will come from the Chevrolet parts bin; a sketch released by General Motors defense notably shows eight-hole wheels also found on the Silverado HD.