Next-Gen Trucks

Expect a turboed V6 to rival the EcoBoost engine in the F-150. It may also find its way into the full-sized SUV models. As far as we know, the next generation Tahoe and Yukon will remain full-sized vehicles. IMO, they should drop the Tahoe/Yukon in favor of the new TrailBlazer and a GMC variant (Envoy?) to rival the Durango, if they wanted to.

Is there any more info on the turbo V6? I don’t think that GM should drop the Tahoe/Yukon since it’s the best SUV in it’s class plus it’s the best selling SUV in it’s class, I also don’t think that Durango is TrailBlazer’s direct competitor, new Durango is Unibody contruction and TrailBlazer is BOF.

@Lex Not much right now. In fact, the TT 3.6 and 3.0 have been the most secretly-veiled powerplants that we’ve seen.

In regards to the Tahoe/Yukon, the Expedition and the Expedition EL far outclass the GMT-900s in terms of technology. Ford is updating those vehicles every year or two years, and it giving them new tech (cabin tech) and power train enhancements. The GMT-900 SUVs haven’t received any such updates from their inception, as far as I know. Even then, they’re considerably larger than the midsized TrailBlazer; if anything, it would be the Traverse that replaces them in the future. But I don’t see that happening any time soon.

PS: most consumers don’t know or care about BOF vs. unibody; they just want something that rides to their liking (whether it’s more truck-like or car-like). Even then, the Durango/Grand Cherokee have nearly the capabilities of their closest body-on-frame competitors, such as the Pathfinder. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they performed on par with the TrailBlazer.

@Alex, Ecoboost looks good on paper, real world driving not so much, EB gets a little better MPG then V8’s when empty, and worse when towing, city driving is about same. With a higher sticker price, I don’t see how it’s any better then a V8. I hope GM will take few steps further and refine that technology to get better MPG and clearly see advantage in terms of fuel economy (with great power) over their counterpart V8’s.

Last time I drove and Expedition was an 2008 model, interior looked great, but it felt underpowered compare to a Tahoe. Besides interior, how does Expedition outvlass the Tahoe?

Your right, most people buy what ever looks/drives good, but a true off-roader would go with BOF. Maybe GM should make something to compete with FjCruiser?

How about putting that natural gas system now in the large GM van into the Yukons and Suburbans ET AL? They are large enough to carry the weight, and have the demographic to support the price. Some of us just won’t give up our large, comfortable SUV’s, but would like to see some progress with newer technology.

But please don’t “rush the job” and give us another “350 diesel conversion” fiasco like they did in the 1980’s. I had 3 of them in the fleet back then, and eventually put a gas 350 in one of them. The caper only cost GM the loss of Cadillas as the “Standard of the World,” and their customers literally ran away to Lincoln Town Cars, and to “real Mercedes diesels” that actually worked! Cadillac never recovered, even today.

And the E 85 idea wasn’t much better. I have an 03 Yukon I ordered in 2002 with that engine, and I still would have to drive over 600 miles to even find an E 85 fuel station. And replacing the Siemens fuel sensor, which rusted out, cost over $700. Shameful! It never had a tankful of E 85 in it! Then add in the rusted out motor for the air suspension, the rusted out brake baffles, and the defectively designed manifold bolts that should have been a recall, and you wonder why loyal GM owners for generations are mad, with many running away to Japanese and German vehicles. But the XM radio is great!

I would like to see the natural gas conversion engines in these vehicles, along with better rust prevention and other badly designed engineering issues fixed. Please see if you can get it right this time, and stop continuing to disappoint us. Loyal customers like me are dying off faster than they are being replaced!