It’s looking as though General Motors could be cooking up a go-fast variant of the new Chevrolet Tahoe. Believed to be called the Chevrolet Tahoe SS, the future performance SUV is tipped to equip the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4.
According to a recent report from TFL Truck, which cites an anonymous tipster with “inside knowledge of GM powertrain development,” The General is currently working on a high-performance truck version of one of its 6.2L V8 engines. Although the report does not specify power levels, which 6.2L engine will be used, when we’ll see it, or exactly which model will receive the powerplant, it does say that it may power a future Chevrolet Tahoe SS model, and/or the upcoming Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZRX performance off-roader.
GM Authority was the first to report on the upcoming Chevrolet Silverado ZRX back in August of 2019 after GM made a trademark filing for the “Silverado ZRX” name. We previously speculated that the ZRX would come equipped with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87, and instead focus on suspension and body upgrades, offering a similar approach as the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. From what we know, this is still the case, but it now appears that more power may also be optional.
What’s more, we know that GM will offer a high-performance version of the next-generation Cadillac Escalade, as we reported back in July of 2019. It’s certainly possible that the go-fast Escalade will come equipped with the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 for motivation.
For reference, the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 was previously offered in the now-discontinued Cadillac CTS-V, where it produced 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. The LT4 was also equipped in the C7 Corvette Z06 and sixth-gen Camaro ZL1, making 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.
Take all that blown V8 goodness and throw it under the hood of a new Chevrolet Tahoe SS model, and it could make for quite a potent combo.
Would you like to see the LT4 powering a new Chevrolet Tahoe SS? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Tahoe news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
While it’s logical to offer the LT4 engine in the next generation Chevrolet Tahoe; General Motors CEO Mary Barra isn’t about logic or building vehicles consumers may want which means the chances of this getting to production is remote unless Hennessey Performance builds it.
Lets not forget about the Callaway Tahoe, too. This souped-up Tahoe will cost you about 20k over sticker price, so I suppose that if GM can make it sell for around 80k it would make sense. I feel like a growing family should probably be spending that cash on their children’s education, not something that they sit in the carpool line with.
It’s not for parents with a family per se. It’s for people who want a performance SUV that can afford it, with or without children in the home.
Oh, so that’s how capitalism works… I guess a fool and their money are soon parted. “performance” SUV. lulz.
So take it to a half-azs tuner for performance but foreign competition can offer factory performance SUVs, this thinking make domestic makers limp because not everyone in America wants boring vehicles . A smart “family” would buy a Traverse or a used/base Tahoe.
I agree with you.
GM doesn’t want to take the ri$k in making a Equinox size performance SUV.
It’s unfortunate that you have to go to a foreign auto maker in order to get a performance in anything smaller than a Tahoe.
I think the real issue is that they don’t want anyone who is willing to spend more than $50,000 on such a vehicle to look at anything except a Cadillac in the GM lineup.
Another issue is that all their vehicles in that size class are front wheel drive based.
Middle-market focus – and they failed miserably by not producing sedans that anybody cares about.
Ok, then go buy those Mopar or Foreign “performance” SUVs. Also, Callaway isn’t exactly a sloppy tuner, pretty sure they retain a factory warranty. All I’m saying is the SUV’s are people haulers and shouldn’t be viewed as performance, sedans are much better suited for this. For example a Tahoe weights well over 1000 lbs more than a Caprice. The Tahoe will never be as fun to drive as something with a lower center of gravity with less weight, so why waste money buying a compromise. I mean if that’s your prerogative there are plenty of options out there, just not from GM.
Just hoping that GM will see a market in Equinox or Blazer size performance SUVs.
I wouldn’t hold your breath. I mean Alex commented on that below. If it does ever happen, it will probably be an EV, similar to the new Ford Mach-e. Sounds a lot like the Cadillac Lyriq might check that box.
But Calloway isn’t the factory, nor I’m not going to a state with no airports to a shady dealer to order one, wait 1 1/2 year for completion, drive it back home and just to get a surprise that it doesn’t meet my home state emissions standard nor I should be forced to buy one genre of vehicle for performance, My old TBSS was the best of both worlds though I know I couldn’t road race it.
I’d love to see an mass market Impala/SS replacement but we’re talking about S/C SUVs and guess what?, Mopar have now 2 S/C SUVs (H/C Cherokee and Durango) despite still offering rwd sedans.
Mopar or no car🤘I guess… In terms of a “performance” SUV that suits your particular needs.
Why not a SS Suburban as well
I honestly don’t know
People do not need a surround speaker set that vibrates the walls, BUT they buy them
So true…
I still think GM should build a mid-size truck based SUV like the old Trailblazer. Make more sense to put a high performance engine in a smaller, lighter, sportier unit. The current crop of GM CUV’s are nice but front drive based vehicles just aren’t well suited for performance or towing.
That went out the window when the 32XX platform was canned.
The only hope at this point for a high-performance midsize performance CUV is electric.
GM/Barra all talk.
I can see GM putting the LT4 into the Silverado ZRX (YES!!) and the Escalade-V, but not the Tahoe. As cool as it would be, we know the Escalade-V is coming, and why would GM want to cannibalize the sales of those with sales of the cheaper Tahoe SS? Many would probably prefer (logically) to just grab a Tahoe SS and save thousands as opposed to the Escalade-V, and that would cut into GM’s profit margins on the venture.
I’d love it if all 3 were made, but I don’t see it happening.
I agree, Cadillac V only, price it 110K. ???? profit?
Some people may like the styling of the Tahoe over the Escalade, plus you you have Cadillac owners that you never be caught dead in a lowly Tahoe, yet its basically the same truck.
A Tahoe SS and a Silverado ZRX makes perfect sense to me.
Same amazing engine can be used to be badass off road and flying through sand dunes in the ZRX while in the Tahoe SS it could be tuned for fast performance.
Sounds promising. Let’s just hope GM, doesn’t do this like they did 454SS pickups. Only Black, with a horrific burgundy cloth interior. And it was automatic only. No Stick. If GM does this, it better be hotter than a $2.00 pistol. But, I’m sure they will mess it up somehow. And, you can be sure it will cost as much as the C8 ‘Vette. Just sayin’
I love the Tahoe but it is way overpriced as it is now
It would be great to see a SS version but if they build it , it will be way overpriced.
Speed cost, you expect a $45k Tahoe SS?, even the base Tahoe is $50k. It’s plenty of room for a performance sedan below $40k although.
I can tell that most of you never had the joys of working on a V8 trailblazer.. they were a royal pain in the a$$ to even do an oil change, let alone a tune up or performance mods beyond a cold air intake or a pcm tune.
Speak for yourself, I’m a former TBSS owner with bolt-ons, you can’t beat the price that truck gives for it’s mods. But yes, if you’re not careful it can be a maintenance queen.
As the owner of a modified ’11 Camaro SS and a modified ’17 Corvette GS, please make these performance variants. Other manufacturers have been providing such variants to their faithful fans for a long time. Us GM guys have had to settle for $2,500 sticker packages. Embarrassing to say the least.
GM, you have plenty of faithful buyers that want performance models! If you make them, we will come.