Today it was revealed that General Motors next-generation full-size pickup trucks and SUVs are nine months ahead of schedule and will ride on an all-new, lightened chassis being referred to by GM and suppliers as T1XX. In addition to this, the new trucks will have smaller, more efficient engines coupled with fuel saving start-stop technology, according to a Reuters report.
Due to fuel economy standards which go into effect in 2017, both GM and Ford have to find ways to improve the fuel efficiency of their full-size vehicles. As a result, GM will play follow the leader with Ford and offer “a new family of smaller, lighter, more powerful engines similar to Ford’s EcoBoost engines,” Reuters says. These engines will be fuel injected and turbocharged and will feature a stop-start system, like Ford’s 2015 F-150.
Paired with the new engines and lightened chassis will be also be GM and Ford’s co-developed 10-speed automatic transmission for future trucks. The transmission won’t be ready until the new Silverado and Sierra go on sale in the fall of 2018. GM announced earlier this month that an eight-speed transmission will be available on the 2015 Silverado, Sierra and Yukon with the 6.2-liter V8, which is just one of the updates GM has in store for the current K2XX-based trucks.
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Please don't, everyone here knows that ecoboost is nothing but a marketing gimmick. Instead, how about taking a page from Bob Lutz's book, and making a hybrid power train?
Although I am a fan of the new GM trucks, one must applaud Ford on its new f-150. Trims, engines, the use of lightweight materials, and it's overall looks presents me as a fan of the truck. I suppose we still need to see real world performance and reliability statistics before final judgments. I personally hope GM offers an upgraded z71 package like Toyotas TRDpro series . I'd strongly consider buying one.
It's good to see Ford and GM combining resources and engineering to develop the next line of fullsize pickups. It'll be even more exciting to how both companies will apply the new tech.
The government is going to kill the full size truck segment, I do not want an F'n turbo in my truck, and at this point I am not ready for a diesel!
If they tubro the new trucks I will be done buying new Chevy trucks. It would cost me way less then $30,000 to buy a old rust free Chevy truck from the south and to replace the engine and transmission. Then drive it for 300,000 miles before it rust out.
Whilst I agree with this move by GM, it's ironic that this news is leaking out so early. I remember, not too long ago, a few GM's executive throwing cold water on Ford's plan to use "expensive" aluminum on full size trucks, and lots of horror stories about the reliability of small, turbo engines in full size truck. I suppose this is giving more ammunition to the people who brandish GM as a follower, not a leader. I guess we are living in an ever changing world!
Stop with the false horror stories on the Turbo engines. The fact is GM has more issue with the NA Eco engines than any of the Turbo Eco engines.
I am 5 years in on a 300 HP Eco with 23 PSI of boost and nary an issue and lots of power and torque. If you are not familiar with the new engines then stop spreading false statements. As with anything there are issues with anything but the issues on most correctly built turbo engines are very small. Most do not share parts with the NA engine and carry stronger blocks, Cranks, Heads and even sodium valves. Todays turbochargers are water cooled and use Syn oils that do not coke up the oil lines.
Ford took a risk and proved they could get people to buy a Turbo V6 in a truck when most said they would not. On top of that they are able to charge them a 1200-1400 dollar premium over the V8 too boot. If I were GM and saw a way to make more money with this I would offer it too.
I would rather see GM charges with being a follower than just stand there and remain stagnate and not make a buck on a growing trend.
The way I see it the Fords are not all that better than the GM trucks now weight wise and once GM tossed the Aluminum on they could be 500 pounds or more lighter than Ford.
Autopal was not creating any horror stories, false or otherwise. He was regurgitating the stories being told by GM executives earlier when the current trucks were released. They made all sorts of bold claims of the technology employed in these trucks and made denouncements of the very technologies that they are now going to offer. Don't be so quick to type next time.
I bet the turbo v6 ford will not last 400,000 miles. Trucks are supposed to be tough with v8 engines.
Well Ford has taken risk and they are paying off with good marketing.
The Aluminum is not a big deal as GM will only be 350 pounds off from the Ford. The Turbo V6 is not a big deal over the 5.3 but the marketing has made it the must have exciting engine out there.
Now don't get me wrong Aluminum is neat and the Turbo engine is good but the marketing is what Is really selling these ideas. In todays market it is important to make a product exciting even if the truth is there is not as much advantage as they like to make you think.
The fact is the MFG were all going to have to go to this as the only way out is less mass and smaller engines. The Trucks will all get Aluminum and as they lose mass they will get smaller turbo engines that will increase the MPG over the V8. We will still have as good or better performance with the smaller engines but the cost will climb up.
For what V8 options that will be left I expect the prices to climb to force buyers to consider the V6 options.
I hate to see it too but the market place is in great transformation. The trucks 10 years from now will be radically different from anything we would have considered 20 years ago.
I do not say these things because I want them but I say them as just plain simple observations of the market and from what may inside are saying. Mass is the key word in trucks and they will cut it any way they can. GM is hoping to play off much of the half ton market on the mid size and move the full size people to the 3/4 and up where the MPG regs are less strict.
Scott3, you are missing my point. I'm not saying Ford's turbo V6 is a horror story, and I personally would not hesitate to buy it if I was in the market for a truck, the point I was making is about the countless amount of GM fans that criticize Ford's use of turbo 6 in a full size trucks, and the countless number of blog post about expected maintenance and reliability issues. Also, lots of comments about why aluminum is a bad idea (expensive to repair, high insurance costs, etc) I just find it ironic, and is interested in hearing the views of these same GM fans, now that GM is basically joining Ford with extensive use of aluminum and turbo 6. And as I said, I agree with this move by GM
Critics are what they are. As of now they will not buy a 4.3 anyways and if GM offers the Turbo they would buy the V8.
GM has nothing to lose here going with a turbo. As time goes on these critics will either just buy the V8 or learn the truth that they are reliable and an engine up to the task if called upon. In time with weight loss the trucks will gain more MPG with the smaller motors. The only real negative is added cost and Ford has proven people will pay it.
As for the aluminum. It was coming no matter about the 2015 Ford or not. Ram will get it too.
The trucks as they are now will not be able to be sold later and if GM wants to retain a full size half ton on the market they will have to do the same.
But with increased cost I see a decline in half ton truck at some point as the prices are getting to a tipping point. GM showed earlier this year that no rebates no sales. Ford will find this out in time too. There is just a limit to what people will pay.
GM does have a ace here with the smaller trucks and I expect them to do well and Ford will copy them with the Ranger here at some point. As the Product manager at Ford stated the only thing keeping the Ranger from the US market is the will of Ford to bring it here. The truck was engineered to be sold here if the need came.
The fact is Ford marketing is the best right now with the entire Ecoboost line. They have most people out there convinced the invented the DI Turbo engine while GM and Audi had it years before them.
We sit here at often discuss perceptions and how to change them. Well good marketing is a key and GM right now has a very mixed bag of non focused marketing. When you keep changing your catch phrase and the fact you change advertising firms yearly does not help. GM needs to focus on their true improvements and their advanced options they have.
Just look at Cadillac and the ATS. There is little excitement about the car as GM tells little about the car in advertising. The weight loss and the advanced suspension and weight savings should be front and center. Few people know there is a TT V6 in the CTS as they tell no one unless you read the car magazines.
Same for the trucks they have done little to generate excitement. They built a great truck but nothing that stands out or anything that they tell anyone about.
So stop with the dancing robots and cowgirls driving their horses around and focus on the product.
I believe that if GM would Turbo the 4.3, it would make the same or more power then the new 6.2 V8 and perhaps better mpg.
It's no surprise that this dude missed your point. He has so much time to type that he gets carried away with his own words. I read and heard all the denouncements that you did. I also read and heard all the false hype that these trucks have been lathered with. I predicted there would have to be changes within a year and we have heard that those changes are coming. And we are now seeing that GM will have to play follow-the-leader. It's also not surprising that some of these "GM fans" agree with the GM executive denouncements and then about-turn when those same executives start to back-pedal. That's how zealots behave. As long as GM is doing it, it is right. [smdh].
Let's not forget that GM has much better engine technology to work with to justify smaller displacement, turbocharged engines. GM has Intake Variable Valve Lift, Stop/Start, Active Grille Shutters, and they can sure as hell introduce Variable Torque Management. They also have the 8-Speed's rolling out and have a fairly lightweight truck to begin with.
8-Speed:
4.3L V6 with 335HP and 310LB-FT
3.2tdi V6 with 260HP and 450-465LB-FT
10 Speed:
3.2t V6 with 380HP and 395-410LB-FT
6.2L V8 with 460HP and 465LB-FT
6.6tdi V8 with 430HP and 790-805LB-FT
Already talking about the next generation models? I think GM will have a good future in the development as well as modifications of there current GMC and Chevrolet 1500 models. Every year the next best thing comes out and improvements are made. Let's take one year at a time however....