GM Product Chief Hints At Chevy Suburban HD
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Ever since General Motors introduced the all-new, T1-based 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, many have wondered whether GM would offer a new heavy-duty version of the SUV as well. Now, GM’s vice president of Global Product Programs, Tim Herrick, has hinted that a new Chevy Suburban HD could be on GM’s radar.
General Motors recently announced that it had delivered the first unit of the Chevy Colorado-based GM Infantry Squad Vehicle to the U.S. Army. During the announcement, Herrick was asked how GM would bring its various technologies into the defense market. His response mentioned a new Chevy Suburban HD model.
“I have full-size truck stuff in my blood, right? So I understand what it takes to make a light duty truck, a heavy duty truck, an SUV, make them all together architecturally work, and then expand that architecture, whether it’s putting batteries in, or different engines and the like,” Herrick told GM Authority. “Expanding the architecture architecturally would be great. And with that, then you bring, maybe a heavy-duty Suburban.”
Chevrolet Suburban 3500HD
There hasn’t been a Chevy Suburban HD in production since the end of 2018 following the discontinuation of the K2-based Suburban 3500HD. Previously, the Suburban 3500HD was available exclusively to fleets, starting at $80,215, $30,000 more than the $49,915 starting price of the standard Suburban model. Powered by the 6.0L V8 L96 gas engine, the Suburban 3500HD is motivated by 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, which was directed to all four wheels by way of the six-speed 6L90 heavy-duty automatic transmission.
Compared to the standard model, the Suburban 3500HD came with substantially greater payload capacity, specifically 4,405 pounds from an 11,00-pound GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), as compared to the 1,670 payload rating and 7,500-pound GVWR offered by the standard Suburban.
As such, the HD model was a great choice for armoring and bulletproofing.
Although Herrick’s recent comments are from an official confirmation, they are still the first time we’ve heard anything related to a new Chevy Suburban HD model from GM brass. That said, we fully expect a new, T1-based Chevy Suburban HD to launch for the 2022 model year.
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Would this new suburban hd be fleet only?
Will it be built at Arlington Assembly Plant in Arlington Tx
While I do want an HD Suburban to be available to the public with heavier duty engines, I don’t see how it would work with independent suspension, I don’t think the heavy duty crowd would go for that even if GM did upgrade the axle components. And I really don’t see GM making a solid rear axle for this, except for if they made it fleet only with no 3rd row, but I feel like that kinda negates the purpose of a HD Suburban if it can’t hold more people than the crew cab pickup. And yes, I do realize people want inside storage, but why not just make a crew Van with 4wd?
The T1 platform supports both IRS and SRA configurations. So it is entirely possible to have an HD Burb.
It’s a no brainer that a HD Suburban is returning, the question is is it 1. going on public sale 2. SRA instead of IRS for the HD?.
The T1 platform supports both IRS and SRA configurations. So it is entirely possible to have an HD Burb.
The platform does but does the new suburban body structure support this?
Yes, the biggest change and why it has souch more interior room for cargo and 3rd row leg space was because of the switch to IRS. So going back to SRA would take away almost all the advantage over the old one.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra said that the company will soon have the capacity to put everyone in an electric vehicle and given that production of the GMC Hummer EV will begin in 6-8 months, one has to wonder how long any Chevrolet Suburban will remain gas powered before it is replaced by an electric variant that uses the Hummer EV as a starting point.
Mary is putting us all in electrics, whether we like or not. It will be all they offer at some point, gas prices will go way up, supply and demand. Better invest in real long extension cords.
Learned to drive on a 97 Suburban 2500 with the 454! Good times… I hope it comes back. But this still feels like wishful thinking.