The Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban Rally Sport Truck models made their debut last year, but thus far, the real performance goodies could only be had with the Tahoe RST. Now, Chevrolet is adding the performance package to the Suburban RST—and it gets a 6.2-liter V8 engine.
Chevy announced on Friday that the Suburban RST performance package will mirror the Tahoe RST’s performance package after amplified customer demand for such SUVs. The Suburban will trade its 5.3-liter V8 engine for the aforementioned 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. The former makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque.
The new engine pairs with GM’s 10-speed automatic transmission, which provides shorter steps between gears to maximize performance during acceleration. The wider 7.39 overall gear ratio also helps manage fuel consumption along with Active Fuel Management.
Magnetic Ride Control and a host of exterior upgrades also come standard with the Suburban RST’s performance package. However, extra goodies will be optional. They include a Brembo performance brake kit with red calipers and a Borla exhaust system. The exhaust improves flow by 28 percent for enhanced performance and decreased fuel consumption, per Borla. The aftermarket company will also handle any warranty claims for the exhaust, not GM.
The exterior is identical to the regular Suburban RST. Body-color accents flood the SUV, while chrome goes away in favor of blacked-out pieces. The grille, Chevy badges and window trim all wear a gloss-black look.
Pricing is not available for the 2019 Suburban RST performance package, but expect to see the SUV on sale this summer.
Comments
Hopefully the Silverado RST will also have a 6.2 option. Would seem a bit silly if it didn’t now.
Exactly. In single cab short bed. With a few bolt ons (intake, headers, exhaust) and a dyno tune it would be a weapon. Throw a cam in and it’s a mean truck worthy of an SS badge
I was figuring the next generation full sized SUVs to be out in about a year from when the new pickups come out?
Should be near September 2019, or a bit sooner.
I honestly don’t know why Chevrolet won’t offer the 6.2L V8 as a free flow option on ALL it’s 1500 model-range trucks (Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban). With or without choosing the RST trim. I’d be interested in a 2019 Silverado Custom TrailBoss Regular Cab/Standard Bed 4X4 with the 6.2L V8. Alas, I’m sure I’d have to choose a High Country Crew Cab 4X4 with every other option as mandatory, before being allowed to select this sweet V8. And what about the guys that want a 1500 2WD Work Truck with extra gusto for towing, etc?
I am with you on that. Should have happened several years ago.
This was a certainty ever since they made a version for the feds with the easily-tuned Duramax.. Some of us even asked fleet sales reps if they would slip in an order.
It was quickly becoming the “all-new COPO Suburban” in some circles.
A duramax Tahoe and suburban would be an awesome addition to the regular production lineup. The more I think about it Chevrolet has some major opportunities in front of them with ford bowing out of the car game. The impala is in a great spot to go for a high performance electric sedan with great styling from the 60s. It should be to us today what is was to us back then. An impressive full size sedan that is powerful, practical and comfortable enough to drive cross country. Granted I know that gm officials will probably never see any of these posts or if they do they won’t pay attention to them but it’s nice that there is a platform that enthusiast can express their thoughts even if it’s just to each other
Chevrolet needs an affordable performance RWD v8 powered sedan on the Alpha II platform to go along with a new Camaro (RS, SS, 1LE, Z/28, ZL1). They also need a Durango fighter (Blazer SS) with the 6.2L 455hp V8 along with a Tahoe SS, Suburban SS and Silverado SS. Still would love to see a Pontiac Revival under GMC so we could get the Trans Am, GTO, Grand Prix and Bonneville back all on the Alpha-II & Omega platforms with good engines like a new LS7 variant LT7 7.0L v8 in the Trans Am & GTO and a 475hp 6.2L LT1 in the Grand Prix and Bonneville and besides if its done under the GMC Lineup they wont have to worry about making SUVs and trucks. I would love to see the Terrain drop & the Acadia become a Canyon based SUV and Renamed “Jimmy” along with renaming the Canyon to S15 “Sonoma” which would be cool because then we could get a Cyclone and a Typhoon back with the 464hp 3.6L twin turbo since Buick won’t go ahead and make a Alpha chassis Regal Grand National & GNX.
I’m just going to say this. GMC has a serious shot at putting Ford out of business completely in North American leaving just GM & FCA. Look at it this way if GM did a lineup like this
Chevrolet
1.) Camaro: 410hp 3.6L twin turbo V6 from the XTS V-Sport Sedan as engine for the RS coupe w/ a suspension setup from the ATS-V for the RS-1LE. The SS should have a 475hp 6.2L LT1 V8 with the 2SS as the only option. The 1LE should build upon that with a cold air intake, a higher flow exhaust, a hotter head and cam package, 1LE specific suspension and should get around 510hp. The Z/28 should revisit the LS7 7.0L V8 but get a bump to around 530hp with the new “Hot LT1″ head and cam setup, a better intake manifold, cold air intake, better aerodynamics but not as wild as a ZL1, ZL1 brakes and a few other things such as taller rear lip spoiler than the SS or RS package since Camaros should have a lip spoiler and not a pedestal spoiler. Lastly the ZL1 needs to move up to about 720hp to destroy the new GT500.
2.) Corvette: C8, mid engine design, sounds like a lambo killer to me!!!
3.) Malibu: RWD Alpha-2 chassis, 5.3L V8 high output 425hp, 10-speed auto, AWD available, magnetic ride, 1LE suspension setup dual mode exhaust system, sculpted hood, rear lip spoiler (no less than 3” tall) Camaro inspired interior, etc.
Blazer: Colorado based SUV with a 6.2L V8 option and an off-road diesel 6-cylinder option. Needs an SS variant to battle the SRT Durango. AWD standard on everything with performance suspension and Brembo brakes on the SS. would also be nice to see a Blazer “Xtreme” return (see Colorado-s10 Xtreme below)
Tahoe: Great truck, drop the RST for an all out SS Variant with the 455hp 6.2L V8 10-speed auto, Brembo brakes, magnetic ride, lowered, blacked out, sportier interior, the works! needs a lot more of the new Silverado DNA in its chassis. Of course still have the regular variants of the Tahoe with the 5.3L V8 but offer the 10-speed auto behind it
Suburban: same as Tahoe, just longer
Colorado (S10): Beef up the ZR2, more power and more torque needed. A cool lowered “Xtreme” street version with a hotter V6 would be nice, nothing crazy but something fun with more power, an intake, exhaust, cool wheels, big brakes, aero styling, LED lights, blacked out light housings, well appointed interior, powerful stereo, AWD that kind of stuff.
Silverado 1500: Drop the RST for an SS like the Tahoe above and Bring back the black and red bowties!! needs to be a serious street truck like nothing before it. Black truck red stripes, 22″ wheels Big Brembo brakes, Borla quad exit exhaust in front of the rear tires, mid-length Tri-Y exhaust manifolds, true dual X-pipe exhaust, Magnetic ride, heat extractor hood, aerodynamics upgrades, short bed, crew cab, etc. Then have your other variants.
Silverado HD: 500hp/1000lb ft of torque on the Diesel V8. This is where a major off roading pickup comes into play with knobby 35″ wheel and tire package, 4″ lifted suspension a free-flowing exhaust system, and all of that stuff come into play along with an impressive High Country version and a work truck version.
Buick
Regal (Regal GS, Regal Grand Nation, Regal GNX); Alpha-2 chassis sedan w/ a base regal GS 3.6L 335hp v6, a Regal Grand National with the 420hp 3.6L twin turbo and the GNX with the 464hp twin turbo V6, Grand National should have a 1LE type suspension and the GNX should have the same suspension as the ZL1-1LE Camaro. Recaro seats, alcantara and leather interior, Bose stereos, etc. AWD standard on GS optional on Grand National and GNX
Lacrosse: Move to Omega chassis, AWD, 3.6L 335hp V6 standard equipment, magnetic ride, premium comfort, Avenir model should be even more premium.
Riviera: Avenir concept “boat tail” Riviera brought to real life with current Buick front end body language, 5.3L high out put V8 420hp, 10-speed automatic, Magnetic ride, Brembo silver caliper brakes, sporty and comfortable interior, premium stereo, quiet ride interior, high flow exhaust system, etc.
GMC
Acadia (GMC Jimmy): No GMC vehicle (besides GMC Typhoon 3.6L TT 465hp, should have anything but a V8. 5.3L standard V8 with 10-speed automatic, should have a Typhoon, an SLT, an AT4 and a Denali package.
Yukon: Not much needs to change here besides the addition of an AT4 package 6.2L V8/10-speed auto standard equipment.
Yukon XL same as Yukon
Sierra: new Sierra is fine, Premium interior should rival Cadillac in the Denali variant since Cadillac does not offer a pickup
Sierra HD: 510hp/1015lb-ft of torque: Denali should be as above in the Sierra.
GMC-Pontiac
Firebird (firebird, Formula, Trans Am WS6, Firehawk). Camaro’s more premium sibling with no V6 option, 5.3L high output 420hp base Firebird package, with the SS suspension, Formula should have the 475hp 6.2L V8 with the 1LE suspension & brake setup and slightly different body work and wheels to distinguish the two. the Trans Am WS6 should be a LT7 7.0L w/540hp (10+ for the shaker hood induction system) and a retuned Z/28 adjustable magnetic suspension with drive modes for Comfort, tour, sport, track and weather, all with nod’s to the ’77 Trans Am (front nose, shaker, fender vents, Targa top, rear lip spoiler, full-width LED tail lamp assembly, a Firebird specific interior that does not mimic the Camaro, Recaro seats, better visibility, Alpine stereos system, etc. and lastly a Firehawk with the ZL1-1LE setup pushing 750-800hp which will destroy the GT500 and be more comfortable, more premium and slightly less expensive (by $4,000)
GTO: Stretched Alpha-2 Chassis Coupe 475hp GTO and 510hp GTO Judge Ram air variant with 1LE suspension setup,
Grand Prix: Omega-Chassis Coupe, 475hp 6.2L V8, Brembo brakes, Magnetic ride, retro styling cues, AWD, comfortable Grand Touring car with room to spare and power to move. Exciting, not overly aggressive styling, it needs presence but not be overbearing and the exhaust needs to be audible
Bonneville: Omega Chassis Sedan, 420hp 5.3L High output, Magnetic comfort ride, big brakes, confident highway cruiser full size sedan 10-speed automatic, AWD
Cadillac: At this point with the Pontiac and Buick lineups taking over the middle segment, Cadillac can finally change up completely and step up to really battle AMG, BMW-M and Audi-S. All vehicles should be on a RWD chassis, the Elmiraj, Escala, Escalade, CT5 & CT6 should have the base 500hp 4.2L V8, the 550hp V-Sport 4.2L V8 and a 700hp 4.5L twin turbo V8 engine with 10-speed DCT transmissions and AWD standard as well as magnetic ride, Brembo brakes, etc. The XT5 and XT7 need to be RWD chassis AWD vehicles with the 410hp 3.6L twin turbo as the base engine with the 465hp 3.6L twin turbo V6 as the premium engine. Also none of these cars should resemble their GMC, Pontiac, or Chevrolet stable mates whatsoever. The escalade needs to be much sportier, lower, more angular and have more of the modern Cadillac body language. This truck should be epic, stunning and a work of art like only Cadillac can deliver.
GM-E
Vega- performance electric SUV 600hp/700lb-ft instant torque, Denali level comfort, high performance suspension and Brembo regenerative braking with an engaging ride, Camaro inspired, dual electric motors 200hp front/400hp rear, AWD setup 50/50 weight distribution, solar tint laminate quiet safety glass windows, impressive sporty-near aggressive design, 21″ staggered width wheels, ultra high performance all season tires.
Caprice- electric full size SUV 300hp/450lb-ft instant torque AWD
Impala SS-Performance larger fastback-hatchback crossover same specs as Vega but larger and not Camaro inspired. Needs throwback cues (I.e ’67 Impala Fastback but with 4-doors and a Crossover ride height.)
Honestly this lineup would kill Ford off completely and possibly dethrone mopar’s muscle car reign although it wouldn’t be enough to kill Mopar off it would certainly give them serious kick in the butt. Hopefully in would inspire FCA to do more and bring out more vehicles that America really loves because Mopar is really the only one doing that. This lineup above takes care of everything from Electric, everyday sedans, performance, SUVs and trucks and it has lineups to cover all of the bases from basic, mid (professional) grade to luxury.
Car and Driver magazine tested the 2018 Cadillac Escalade with the 420 hp 6.2L OHV-2v V8 with 10-speed automatic transmission and they clocked a 0-60 time of 5.8 seconds which is remarkable given it’s curb weight of 5,600+ lbs which translates to meaning the 2019 Chevy Suburban RST can do it all from taking the kids to school as the every day driver and still having the grunt to haul at speed if needed.
Looks like a great vehicle IMHO. And to think I almost thought about looking at the RST Tahoe. Not anymore. Thanks Chevrolet!
How about some info on the 2019 Yukon Graphite performance edition package?