The Chevrolet S-10 (and similar GMC S-15 and Sonoma) was a compact pickup truck from the GMC marquee of General Motors. When first introduced in 1982, the GMC version was known as the S-15. A high-performance version was the GMC Syclone. The truck was also sold by Isuzu as the Hombre from 1996 through 2000. There was also an SUV version, the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer/GMC S-15 Jimmy. Together, these trucks are often referred to as the S-series.
Second generation
The second-generation trucks appeared in 1994. All of the special models (The Syclone, Typhoon, and Sonoma GT) were gone, but the changes to the truck brought it in line with arch-rival Ford Ranger. The Iron Duke and 2.8 L 60° V6 engines were dropped, leaving just the 4.3 L Vortec and a new 2.2 L engine, itself a derivative of the old Cavalier OHV. A high-output version of the 4.3 was offered on the "SS" model.
Much of the chassis components were the same as the first generation (the A-frames between the first and second generation were the same although they were originally sourced from GM's G-body vehicle lineup, along with the steering knuckle, leaf springs, and differential assembly (the second generation has an 8.5" rear differential on some 4 x 4s).
The 4.3 L engines were refreshed for 1996 and a third (rear) door was added for extended-cab models. The exterior, interior, brakes, and 2.2 L engine were refreshed for 1998, and "Auto-Trac" all-wheel drive was optional starting in 1999 for the Blazers. Also the SS package was replaced by the "Xtreme" sports model package. In 2002 a CrewCab option was added and was available in 4WD and Automatic transmission only.
Base 2WD models came with 15x7 inch rims with directional vents, Xtremes and ZQ8 models came with 16x8" rims while 4WD models (including the ZR2) used 15x7" rims. The 14 inch rims used on the first generation were discontinued.
Second-generation S-series were also produced locally in Brazil; and are still in production even though S-series production ceased in 2004 in the U.S.