Red Hot Lives On for the 2027 Silverado, but Only for Fleets
Red Hot is not dead on the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. It just is not for you, unless you run a fleet. While digging through the 2027 Silverado 1500 order guide, I found Red Hot still listed as an exterior color, but with a footnote that locks it to fleet and government orders.
That explains why my 2027 Silverado deep dive video below only covered the new Apex Red. Retail buyers will not see Silverado Red Hot on the build and price tool. Here is the twist, though: GMC still sells that same bright red to regular buyers on the Sierra 1500. It just calls it Cardinal Red.
Red Hot Is Now a Fleet-Only Color
The order guide lists Red Hot under paint code G7C, and its footnote reads: late availability, requires a fleet or government sales order, and not available on the Trail Boss, ZR2, or High Country. In practice, that leaves the Work Truck, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, and Silverado trims, and only for buyers ordering through a fleet account.
Red Hot is also limited to the plain Jet Black interior, while Apex Red pairs with all five interior combinations. That fits a color aimed at commercial buyers who want a bright red truck for a business or municipal fleet.
This is a quiet change. Chevrolet’s 2027 Silverado reveal highlights Apex Red as one of three new colors, and Red Hot does not appear in it at all. Red Hot did carry over for 2027, just not for the retail showroom.
Apex Red Takes Over as the Retail Red
For retail buyers, Apex Red (paint code GAS) is the new red, and Chevrolet lists it as one of three new colors for 2027 alongside Pacific Blue Metallic and Trillium Green Metallic. It is also one of the easiest colors to get. The order guide attaches no extra-charge or trim restriction to Apex Red, and it pairs with every interior, from the Work Truck to the High Country.
Meanwhile, Radiant Red Tintcoat does not appear in the 2027 order guide, so Apex Red is the only red a retail Silverado buyer can order.
| Color | Paint code | Who can buy it | Trims | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Red | GAS | Retail and fleet | All seven trims | No |
| Red Hot | G7C | Fleet and government only | WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, Silverado | Not listed |
Side by side, the difference is easy to see. Apex Red is a darker, deeper red. Red Hot is your traditional “Lightning McQueen red,” the bright, loud red most people picture when they think of a red pickup. For more on how the rest of the lineup is priced, see our 2027 Silverado pricing breakdown.
GMC’s Cardinal Red Is Red Hot by Another Name
Over at GMC, the 2027 Sierra 1500 offers a bright red called Cardinal Red. According to the 2027 Sierra 1500 order guide, Cardinal Red uses paint code G7C and touch-up paint number WA-130X. Those are the exact same codes as Chevy’s Red Hot. Cardinal Red is an extra-charge color, and the guide lists it for the Pro and Elevation trims.
On the GMC configurator, the gap between the two reds is just as obvious on an Elevation. GMC’s darker red follows the same pattern. Mesa Red uses paint code GAS and touch-up number WA-227K, the same codes as Chevy’s Apex Red. However, GMC lists Mesa Red as an extra-charge color, while Chevy includes Apex Red at no extra cost.
| Paint code | Touch-up number | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | GMC Sierra 1500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| G7C | WA-130X | Red Hot: fleet and government only | Cardinal Red: retail, extra charge, Pro and Elevation |
| GAS | WA-227K | Apex Red: retail, no extra charge, all trims | Mesa Red: retail, extra charge |
In other words, if you want that classic bright red on a new GM half-ton and you are not a fleet buyer, the Sierra Elevation is your best path.
What It Means if You Want a Bright Red Truck
For most retail buyers, the choice is simple: Apex Red on a Silverado, or Cardinal Red on a Sierra Pro or Elevation. Here is how the options shake out:
- You want the classic bright red on a Chevy. You will need a fleet or government sales order, and even then Red Hot is limited to the WT, Custom, Custom Trail Boss, and Silverado trims.
- You want a red Chevy at no extra cost. Apex Red is free on every trim, including the Trail Boss, ZR2, and High Country.
- You want the bright red without a fleet account. The Sierra Elevation with Cardinal Red is the way to get it, as an extra-charge option.
Still, it is a strange split. Chevy sells the brighter red only to fleets, while GMC, the more upscale brand, keeps it for retail customers on its entry trims. Maybe GM sees Red Hot as a work-truck color at Chevy and a value-trim accent at GMC. Either way, if red is your color, it is worth shopping both showrooms.
Which red would you pick: Apex Red or Cardinal Red? Let us know in the comments.