New pickups are GM's biggest test since bankruptcy PONTIAC, Mich (Reuters) - General Motors Co is counting on muscled up, more refined versions of its lucrative Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks to show investors and car buyers that the No. 1 U.S. automaker is back on track. The 2014 model-year trucks are the most critical launch for the Detroit company since its bankruptcy and $50 billion U.S. taxpayer-funded bailout in 2009. The trucks are also a linchpin in GM's ongoing battle with No. 2 U.S. carmaker Ford Motor Co, whose F-150 truck is the industry's top-selling vehicle. GM showed off the new full-size pickups in Pontiac, Michigan, on Thursday, and executives are touting the benefits of the vehicles, which will initially be offered in the most popular four-door, "crew cab" version in the second quarter of next year. "There's nothing more core to our business than our trucks," GM North American President Mark Reuss said at the introduction at a movie studio north of Detroit. "Our competitors may think that they have smooth sailing ahead, but let me tell you the weather is about to change," he said, adding the goal was to beat Ford's F-Series. Analysts estimated the company has invested $3 billion to $4 billion on developing the new trucks and related engines, as well revamping the plants where they are built. Their reception on Wall Street will also be closely watched by officials at the U.S. Treasury, which still owns about 26 percent of GM. The fate of that stake has been the subject of much speculation, with analysts suggesting divestiture might occur closer to the trucks' launch next year. This week, Treasury sold the rest of its position in American International Group Inc, which also got a federal bailout. That would be welcome, since the last major redesign of the trucks was in 2006, and delays caused by GM's bankruptcy in 2009 has put it at a competitive disadvantage in a segment that accounts for about 11 percent of the market, analysts said. GM noted that the average age of big pickups on U.S. roads is more than 10-1/2 years, and the need to replace aging vehicles means plenty of room for sales growth. GM's Reuss did not provide sales projections for the new trucks, but said they would attract new buyers and demand would be there as the U.S. housing market improves. We're timing this very, very well in terms of construction and growth in the economy. LMC Automotive analyst Jeff Schuster cited new features on the trucks, a drastically improved vehicle interior and reduced noise in the cabin as reasons they would likely sell well. "They have created a much more competitive truck," he said, adding that the big challenge now is pulling off the transition from the current model and properly launching the new pickups and SUVs. GM's inventory of large pickups surged in November as it was caught off guard by aggressive deals by rivals. GM's U.S. dealers are champing at the bit for the new trucks, saying the interior design is a big step forward from the current models. They say the new design will make the automaker more of a player, especially at the top end of the market, where prices approach $60,000 and margins are high. "Us having a class-leading truck is critically important to the success of Chevrolet," said Jason Brickl, chief executive of Ballweg Chevrolet in Wisconsin, whose two dealerships in the Madison area get about one-quarter of sales from the Silverado. GM said its 2014 trucks will be new "from hood to hitch," including a trio of new V6 and V8 engines meant to improve power, torque and efficiency. The company said horsepower, torque and EPA fuel economy estimates won't be available until early next year, but said the new trucks will outperform the current models. GM has not announced pricing for the new trucks. GM's big trucks and SUVs - Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade - remain top draws at dealerships. The redesigned SUVs will debut in 2014, followed by new versions of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon midsized pickups in late 2014, Reuss said. GM's pickup truck sales fell in November, with the automaker blaming aggressive discounting by rivals Ford, Chrysler and Nissan. GM has added new incentives for the trucks for December, and executives indicated they will cut production to reduce supplies. Reuss said pickup truck sales were "much better" so far this month, and inventory would end the year close to company targets. GM ended November with 139 days worth of pickups and had said it would miss its year-end target of having U.S. inventory of no more than 220,000 pickup trucks, or 85 days of supply. LMC Automotive expects total U.S. sales of full-size pickup trucks this year to rise 8.4 percent to more than 1.62 million vehicles and hit more than 1.8 million in 2019. It sees GM's combined pickup sales topping Ford's next year and holding that lead through 2019. Officials at Ford said the company is happy with F-150's lead over Silverado. The F-150 was last redesigned in 2008. Meanwhile, GM will stick with its strategy of offering both full-size and midsized pickups as a way to satisfy more consumers. Ford and Chrysler have discontinued their midsized trucks. Additional Reporting By Paul Lienert in Detroit; Editing by David Gregorio and Jeffrey Benkoe