Earlier this month, GM Authority was first to report that General Motors is developing a new, 6.6L V8 gasoline engine for use in its next-generation Heavy Duty pickup trucks – the 2020 Silverado HD and 2020 Sierra HD. Earlier this week, we further reported that the new engine will also be offered in the 2020 Chevy Low Cab Forward 6500. Now, we have come to discover that the large-displacement motor will be used in at least seven different GM models.
The Engine
According to sources familiar with future GM product plans, the automaker is entering final development stages of the new 6.6L V8 gasoline engine. The powerplant will build on the automaker’s core fifth-generation Small Block engine – the 6.2L V8 LT1, while being bigger, more robust and optimized for the rigors of truck use.
It’s rumored that the new GM 6.6L V8 gasoline engine is being tested by GM and Navistar. Pictured here, a prototype of the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD is thought to be testing the new motor.
The new GM engine is expected to make around 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque while featuring the latest internal combustion engine technologies, including direct injection, Cylinder Deactivation (in either AFM or DFM form), and a low-friction valvetrain.
One source tells us that the motor is currently being tested by Navistar, GM’s partner in making Medium Duty Class 4, 5 and 6 trucks.
The Trucks
The new motor is expected to be utilized in seven large trucks offered by General Motors, as well as at least two models produced by its partners – Isuzu and Navistar/International Trucks.
Expected applications of the new GM engine are as follows:
General Motors
- Chevrolet
- 2020 Silverado HD
- 2020 Silverado 2500HD
- 2020 Silverado 3500HD
- 2020 Silverado Medium Duty
- 2020Â Silverado 4500HD
- 2020Â Silverado 5500HD
- 2020Â Silverado 6500HD
- 2020 Low Cab Forward (6500 Series)
- 2020 Silverado HD
- GMC
Isuzu
- Â F Series 6500 (Class 6)
Navistar
- International CV Series
In the case of the Silverado HD and Sierra HD, the new 6.6L V8 gasoline engine will replace the old (but trustworthy) Vortec 6.0L L96 V8 used as the base engine in those models. In the case of the Silverado Medium Duty and Chevy Low Cab Forward, along with their respective variants from Navistar and Isuzu, the new engine will expand the lineup to include a gasoline offering, as both trucks are currently offered exclusively with turbo-diesel powerplants.
We should note that it’s also possible that GM’s new large-displacement engine will also find its way to the Gas models of the Low Cab Forward 3500, 4500 and 5500 Series. The 3500 and 4500 models are powered by the 6.0L L96 Vortec V8 (along with its gaseous counterpart, the LC8). However, we only expect the Low Cab Forward 6500 Series to receive the GM’s future 6.6L V8 mill.
Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 6500HD/XD
2019 Chevrolet Silverado Medium Duty Conventional Truck
The Timeframe
We’ve heard from various sources that GM is almost finished developing the new large-displacement gasoline engine, and that the eight-cylinder will be launched in conjunction with the future Silverado and Sierra HD. Both trucks are expected to be all-new for the 2020 model year. As such, details on the new GM engine will likely be announced in conjunction one of these models in the first half of the 2019 calendar year, if not before.
After making their debut in the Silverado and Sierra HD trucks, the new engine should make its way to the other models – including the Chevy Silverado Medium Duty (International CV Series) and the Chevy Low Cab Forward (Isuzu F-Series).
Stay tuned to GM Authority as we learn more.
Comments
and they put in the Chevy Express/GMC Savana..
Not sure that will happen. Express and Savana are legacy products that they don’t want to raise the cost of production too much.
Which ironically just got the LV3 4.3 and 8 speed mated to that engine, the 2.8 Duramax/A8 combo, plus a few other updates such as park sensors, backup camera, etc.
Anything could happen…
All the components you mention are at least 4 years old. You just proved my point.
The vans need a boost in power since the departure of the 6.6 Duramax. When close to the upper end of GVW the 6.0 is working hard and they drink fuel like crazy
As of June 2019, GM has said they are building a larger version of the new 6.6 liter gas 2020 engine for the heavier 6500HD, 5500HD and 4500HD trucks. The larger version of the same new engine will be about 7 to 7.4 liters to be able to have close to 500 lbs feet of torque with the lower compression ratio and milder cam. The compression ratio will be dropped from the 10.8 to one as used in the 6.6 version. It needs to compete with the new 2020 Ford 7.3 liter gas engine that will compete directly in the F-650 and F-750 trucks and chassis used for step vans and motor homes. The F-250 and F-350 will offer the new 7.3 gasser as an option. The E-350 and E-450 will also use it as will the F-450 and F-550 chassis cabs.
Include the Suburban HD to that list, please.
More robust than the 6.2? Twin turbo it and drop it in the half tons
SS 66 or SS 402
Power is only part of the equation. It must be as reliable as the sun…. which the L96 is and has been. Otherwise it will be a major fail.
What is wrong with people? This is not for performance! This is a work engine!
For the HD and commercial application sure, it for a 1500 it could be a strong engine to boost
Because work is not sexy for most people… but in this case, it doesn’t need to be. It just needs to get the job done, and do so reliably.
Andrew, you’ll find that other engine applications would serve the purpose of a high-performance light duty truck better than the new motor in question. A smaller, boosted engine would fare much better given the needs of such a vehicle. Meanwhile, this one with a boosted serio would be overkill.
There is also the issue of how such an engine is treated by the EPA for CAFE purposes. The HDs are generally exempt from CAFE.
THANK YOU!!
Some of us do not care about how fast the engine is.
Some of us want an engine that will only be in the shop for basic maintenance for the first 15 years/ 200k miles.
Some of us are perfectly fine with an older, more reliable engine; especially if it keeps the base price down.
Agreed. Yes it is a truck engine but a 402 Camaro small block SS would be nice.
Before I make my actual comment, I do understand that this is, in fact, a work truck engine and that as such the 400hp & 450tq is great for what it is. I’m glad GM is doing different stuff with their V8 engines and not alternative stuff yet. But Being that I am a muscle car enthusiast, I can help but to want this engine in the 2020 Camaro SS but of course beefed up with a performance rotating assembly, cam, heads, intake manifold, etc pushing about 495hp and 485lb-ft of torque and call this the SS-396. but then again i’d also love for Chevy to replace the 3.6L with a performance oriented LV3 4.3L V6 pumping out 350hp and 325tq as the Camaro RS, bring in the 2.7L turbo engine as the Camaro LT and give that 310hp & 348tq and then go ahead and take the 5.3L V8, bump it up to 346ci worth of 5.7L V8 at about 425hp/425 lb-ft torque and call that the Camaro Z/28 and make that like the Z/28 of the late 90’s and early 2000 where it was a cool camaro that slotted in under the SS and then above that have a re-worked LT-family variant of the LS7 7.0L 427ci V8 pushing out about 550hp and call that the ZL1 and top it off with an LT7 755hp COPO ZL1 (basically what we know as the ZL1-1LE). Of course all of this would be on the Alpha-2 variant of the VSS-R platform with a revised interior, a trunk space equal to that of the current gen mustang, give the car better visibility (give the car a more 67-69 Camaro roof line with larger glass but still keeping it aerodynamic and make that the Camaro lineup. Of course I’d love if GM came out with a mid-size Alpha-2 platform sedan with the same engine options, a Durango fighting SUV with the same engine options as above for the Camaro, Add some of those engine options in the Tahoe/Suburban lineup, give the Colorado the 2.7L Turbo, Redo the Impala to an Omega-2 Platform and drop in the aforementioned 425hp/425tq 5.7L V8 with the 10-speed auto behind it, keep it lighter than the Charger, give it options such as a 1LE derived suspension, Brembo brakes, heritage styling cues, Camaro inspired interior and a few other things. Finally, the Silverado should get an 454-SS version, a high performance-high luxury Cheyenne variant that should have all of the 454-SS performance features but with high country features and classic 2-tone paint and classic style 22″ wheels with ultra high performance all season tires and a Scottsdale Z71 variant of the trail boss with 33″ tires, 6″ off road lift kit, 6.6L v8 optional two-tone paint, body armor, rugged wash and go interior floors with drains, intake snorkel, stacked exhaust, independent front and rear suspension, etc (along with a Z71 Blazer option for the Tahoe) and finally the Suburban should move to the 2500HD chassis and call it a day. but that’s just my thoughts
For these sized work trucks, they need at least 425 hp and close to 500 lb torque . We tow.