August 12, 2008
In a bid to reverse cratering sales, General Motors says it will step up efforts to turn out more fuel-efficient pickup trucks.
The automaker says the 2009 model Chevy Silverado, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Sierra and GMC Yukon will get a five to seven percent increase in in EPA-estimated highway fuel economy, thanks to use a combination of mechanical, aerodynamic and mass-reducing enhancements.
"We are pulling out all the stops to deliver a more efficient package for customers who need the capability of full-size pickups and SUVs and want the very best fuel economy," said Gary White, GM North America vice president and vehicle line executive for full-size trucks. "Our pickups and SUVs are already the fuel economy leaders of their respective segments, but our engineers knew greater efficiency was achievable. We fast-tracked the XFE models to get them into dealer showrooms as quickly as possible."
The carmaker has dubbed the new models XFE, or extra fuel economy. It says the move reflects a "quick adaptation to an evolving market that remains a very important segment."
The enhancements will be available on 2WD vehicles equipped with the 5.3L V-8 and six-speed transmission. They will achieve 15 city and 21 highway mileage ratings versus comparable non-XFE models' 14/20 ratings," GM said. It said towing ratings for the Tahoe and Yukon remain unchanged, while the Silverado and Sierra increase from 6,600 pounds to 7,000 pounds due to the new, six-speed transmission and high-capacity cooling package.
GM's more efficient full-size pickups and SUVs are powered by a 5.3L FlexFuel V-8 engine that's built with a mass-reducing aluminum cylinder block and heads. It is rated at 320 horsepower and 340 lb.-ft. of torque in Tahoe and Yukon and 315 hp/235 kW and 338 lb-ft/458 Nm in Silverado and Sierra. The engine is backed by a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission.
A rear axle equipped with a fuel-saving 3.08 ratio is also standard on all XFE models. Lightweight aluminum wheels and low rolling resistance tires (with higher tire pressure) also are included on all models.
