Can General Motors overtake Ford and produce the country’s most fuel-efficient light-duty pickup? The automaker is making a dramatic push to do just that with the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500’s new diesel engine.
The Silverado will soon be available with a 3.0-liter inline-six Duramax turbo-diesel engine that gets 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. GM says the diesel-equipped Silverado has been getting 30 to 40 mpg at highway speeds in internal testing. Some testers have reported similar numbers. The diesel Silverado hasn’t been officially rated yet by the EPA, but that certification is expected to arrive soon.
When it does, it could potentially represent a challenge to the Ford F-150’s 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel engine. First released last year, this engine gets 25 combined mpg. Its 30 highway mpg was a first for the light-duty pickup segment.
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Without providing specifics, GM executives Mark Reuss and Barry Engle have been touting the new Duramax diesel’s efficiency in the media. Reuss called the engine the “standard of the world” for fuel economy. “You’re going to be shocked,” Engle added.
GM is hoping that a more fuel-efficient pickup will help it regain some sales ground in the ruthlessly competitive pickup market. As of May, year-over-year Silverado sales were down an estimated 12 percent.
As GM sets its sights on Ford, it’s facing pressure from another direction, too. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has been making a push for a more efficient diesel pickup as well. The automaker is working on a new EcoDiesel V6 for the Ram 1500 — and says it expects that engine to boast segment-leading fuel economy and torque.
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News Source: Automotive News ($)
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