Like its 2016 Chevrolet Colorado brother with the 2.8L Duramax diesel engine, the 2016 GMC Canyon Duramax diesel will be available this fall. Total output is good for an SAE-certified 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque while a Hydra-Matic 6l50 six-speed automatic helps put power to pavement.
The Duramax option box can be ticked on SLE and SLT Crew Cab models with 2WD or 4WD and, like the Colorado, buyers will be asked to fork over an extra $3,700 for the privilege.
“A diesel engine was part of the Canyon’s portfolio plan from the beginning, meaning the chassis, suspension and other elements of its architecture were engineered to support it,” said Scott Yackley, assistant chief engineer. “That means there are no compromises with the Canyon diesel. It offers exceptional capability delivered with a confident feeling of control.”
To be sure, the Duramax Canyon will ask for full-size truck money in its more approachable and nimble mid-size package. Yet buyers have been snatching these trucks up nearly as fast as GM can build them. Therefore, we feel it’s safe to assume that demand will continue with this highly anticipated new engine option.
Comments
Scott Yackley: Putting a 6L50, rated by GM for a maximum engine torque of 332 lb/ft, behind an engine that develops 369 lb/ft, IS a compromise.
It has been upgraded. Wikipedia is not gospel.
Oh great oracle, please tell us how it was upgraded?
And while you’re at it, kindly go to the GM Powertrain webpage and confirm for yourself. That is the gospel – and it says 332 lb/ft maximum engine torque.
If they stated nothing has been compromised then we could have reason to assume the 6L50 has been updated or retrofit for this pickup …
Then they should tell us how the transmission was magically upgraded to handle an increase of more than 10% in torque. Or they should grab a 6L80 of the shelf and put it behind this engine.
So far they’ve done neither.
You’re right. They should provide accurate specs. The applications list, however, shows that the 6L50 has been used on engines up to the 400+lb-ft 6.2L EcoTec3 on the full-size trucks. Something must be up with spec alignments on other applications too because the 6L80 transmission shows a rating of 439lb-ft and they are attaching it to the latest 6.2L engines which are rated for 460.