Chevrolet sends off the Avalanche 2013

It's last call for the Chevrolet Avalanche--the four-door, full-size pickup with an SUV attitude-after a 12-year run. General Motors on Friday said that the 2013 model year will be the last for the Avalanche. And it goes out with a Black Diamond package that includes additional equipment and a unique badge. All 2013 Avalanches get the Black Diamond treatment. Chevy also cut the base price by $820. A rear-drive 2013 Avalanche LS carries a sticker price of $36,975, including shipping charges. For 2013, the LS trim includes remote start, fog lamps, rear camera, rear parking sensors and adjustable pedals as standard equipment. The LT trim adds the rear camera as standard. First shown as a concept at the 2000 Detroit auto show and put on sale in 2001 as a 2002 model, the Avalanche carried two unique features: -- The midgate: The rear glass of the crew cab could be removed and the rear cab wall folded down to extend the length of the truck bed from five feet, three inches to eight feet, two inches. -- Lockable storage bins in the side rails of the truck bed: Drains in the bottom of the bins could be plugged to enable them to store ice or liquid. Other design elements of the Avalanche included a plastic-coated truck bed and tailgate with wheel-tread grips molded into the coating, footsteps inserted into the edges of the rear bumper and a three-segment bed cover that created a water-tight storage compartment. The Avalanche rides on GM's full-size pickup truck frame. It was redesigned for the 2006 model year. Avalanche sales totaled 20,088 units in 2011. GM says it has sold more than 580,000 copies of the Avalanche since its introduction.