2021 Chevrolet Express Receives New 6.6L V8 Gas Engine
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The 2021 Chevrolet Express will remain mostly unchanged over the 2020 model -but General Motors will make one very important change under the hood of the popular full-size van.
The automaker’s new heavy-duty 6.6L L8T V8 gasoline engine will replace the 6.0L LC8 V8 and 6.0L L96 V8 engines in the Express from 2021 onward. The L8T V8 was introduced in the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD and 3500 HD trucks and is good for 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque in the Express.
GM L8T V8
In a statement, GM said the L8T V8’s wider torque band will give drivers “more on-demand power and confidence, especially with heavy payloads.” About 70 percent of current Express owners or fleet buyers select one of the available V8 engines and Chevrolet is hoping to L8T will help garner “the same or increased take rate,” for the optional V8 engine.
| RPO Code | Freshness | Configuration | Fuel | Power (hp / kW @ RPM) | Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ RPM) | Transmission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L V6 LV1 | LV1 | Carryover | V6 OHV | Gasoline | 276 / 206 @ 5200 | 298 / 404 @ 3900 | 8-speed auto M5U |
| 2.8L I4 LWN | LWN | Carryover | I4 DOHC | Diesel | 181 / 135.0 @ 3400 | 369 / 498.2 @ 2000 | 8-speed auto MQD |
| 6.6L V8 L8T | L8T | New for 2021 | V8 OHV | Gasoline | 401 / 299 @ 5200 | 464 / 629 @ 4000 | 6-speed auto MYD |
| 6.0L V8 L96 | L96 | Discontinued after 2020 | V8 OHV | Gasoline | 341 / 254.3 @ 5400 | 373 / 503.6 @ 4200 | 6-speed auto MYD |
GM’s 4.3L LV1 EcoTec3 V6 engine, rated at 276 horsepower and 296 pound-feet of torque, will remain the base engine in the 2021 Chevrolet Express. The automaker’s 2.8L Duramax LWN four-cylinder engine, which is good for 181 horsepower and 369 pound-feet, is also available in the van in addition to the L8T V8. The L8T V8 is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, while the 4.3L V6 and 2.8L Duramax are linked up to an eight-speed automatic.
Demand for full-size commercial vans like the Chevrolet Express has been on the rise, with commercial fleet sales for the Chevy van increasing 12 percent year over year in 2019. This has been partly fueled by increased demand from Amazon and delivery companies, which are busier than ever due to online shopping habits.
Ed Peper, U.S. vice president, GM Fleet, says the recent sales success of the Express line can also be attributed to the quality of the product and the work of the GM Fleet team.
“Our commercial fleet sales growth is a result of excellent product and an even better team,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president, GM Fleet. “The changes for Express, Low Cab Forward and medium-duty trucks are great examples of the team’s commitment to helping customers with their fleet vehicle needs. With the product changes for 2020, we are on track for another year of strong commercial growth.”
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OK GM….now PLEASE give us a diesel option in the cutaway chassis again
Also give us the option for at high roof option, or at least a mid-roof. Something so you can at least stand up in if you’re around 6ft tall!!
This is great. How about a high roof option? Even if they keep the decades old design a high roof would increase sales as it could appeal to those seeking a proven familiar design but also the increased cargo capability and user convenience.
The last keeper of the LS flame. And now his watch has ended.
On the bright side, depending on how they did the platform adaptation, it might make LT-era V8’s more easily transplanted to LS-era V8 cars.
Will be interesting to see the ECU/TCM setup on this one.
Really GM?, I’d already have to race the late/high/drunk construction contractors, angry transportation drivers in these vehicles and the answer?, Mohr Powwaah?…. At least a heavy-cycle 5.3 would work.
Lol, don’t get mad if you guys get smoke by a 6.6 Express in ice cream van or kidnapper cargo van guise…
Guestt, you sound like a product of someone who watches CNN. Trump told you, it’s Fake news. Kidnapper cargo vans? LOL.
Probably can’t wait for the boss to buy one, don’t forget he’ll have the “how’s my driving” number on the bumper incase you late coming back from a “liquid lunch” break…😉
Hard agree – everyday I see at least one Express van on my commute drive like a BMW stereotype who also somehow seems to think their LWB is the same size as a Miata.
They’re phasing out the L96/LS2 engines – this was the last vehicle it was used in at least domestically… and the 6.6L is a direct drop-in.
The L83 would have been an option, I presume they went with the the L8T because it will last longer in the lineup and give them a design win over competitors.
I’d get that the 6.0 isn’t financially feasible anymore, also IIRC a lower output 6.6 for the MD is available also. I just don’t see the point of 400 hp in an old van unless GMC offering a A-Team version of the Savanna.
The problem is Express is very heavy and now competing with FCA FWD vans with Pentastar V6’s.
Nobody driving a cargo van is concerned about HP. Trucks are all about low RPM torque.
I can see it being the go to motor of the future for restomod fans, not to mention high boost HP fans, GM needs to produce an “alu mini um” version for those who want to turn as well as burn.
It is too bad the aftermarket does not have a vast reasonably priced accessories for the genv I realize the popularity of gen 3/4 is for the people who do not have a unlimited budget for a build but the genv is a decade old now
A new Cargo Van would be much better. Thanks GM
They have a 10+ year old platform generating over 100k units a year in sales, why would they replace it?
If you are saying they need to introduce the successor to the Astro van? I would agree.
Need a new platform for sure
What other vans compete with the Express? It would be nice to see an article that compares the 2019 sales of the Express versus those of the competition.
Ask, and you shall receive:
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/02/chevrolet-express-sales-numbers-figures-results-fourth-quarter-q4-2019/
Thank you!
The biggest advantage of the 6.6 liter L8T gas engine is the very high compression ratio, compared to the 6.0 liter. The 10.8 to one CR will allow better gas mileage on regular 87 octane fuel. Also the huge jump up from the 9.7 to one CR on the 6.0 liter, means a much better fuel to CR with propane because of the 104 octane rating of LPG. Expect a 15 percent better MPG with propane on the 6.6 gas engine compared to the old 6.0, just because of the much higher compression ratio. The same thing with better MPG applies to CNG natural gas, as the ultra high 120 octane rating of CNG can never be fully utilized because the perfect CR for CNG is 15 to one CR. NASCAR engines run in that same 14 or 15 to one CR with the 115 octane race gasoline.
Could you please tell me if the 2021 6.6L Express V-8 can be converted to propane?
if you carefully watch the gm’s 2039 video, you will see this same van in the future utopia.
lmao
This Van could be the ultimate sleeper.
What’s the hesitation to adding a high roof version?
I agree that the 6.6L diesel should return to the cutaway models.
Probably that Express is using a very old body on frame platform, and any modifications to that platform would not meet GM specification requirements today.
Which is also why they probably put the 6.6L V8 in. They’re locking down the design because internal rules could prohibit any more changes – but if it’s already built… they can let it sojourn on until VSS and BEV3 arrive.
they have diesel production issues for the high profit HDs
Chevy Express: “Hey Energizer Bunny, eat my dust!”
Why not replace the 2.8 I4 with more powerful 3.0 I6?
production issues + will it fit?
Here Here, I agreee
What are mpg of the new engine vs the old?
How about coming up with a way to keep the paint from coming off… I have 12 of these vans, and paint is peeling on at least 11 of them.
Mine too. They are notorious on the road. Oh look, there goes another peeling Chev van.
If there was a hi roof or medium roof version, I would buy over a Ford Transit.
In a heartbeat 😃
How does the 4.3 perform if you don’t have a fully loaded van? I drove the 4.8 and it was pretty peppy
It should be as good or better than the 4.8. A bit better specs and a bit better mpg.
It will be just fine for flower shop deliveries or similar
Why would you waist the money it’s time for and update the passenger vans are obsulet no room
We’re not buying another old style Chevy van will switch to a transit