General Motors has introduced new, more fuel-efficient versions of its North American market full-size pickup trucks and SUVs.
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New ‘XFE’ versions of the 2009 Chevy Silverado, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Sierra and GMC Yukonuse a combination of mechanical, aerodynamic and weight-reducing enhancements to deliver a 5% increase in EPA-estimated highway fuel economy and over 7% improved mileage in city driving.
The aero enhancements make the Silverado XFE and Sierra XFE models the most aerodynamic full-size pickups in the industry, with a “best in class” 0.412 coefficient of drag (cd), GM said. The Tahoe Hybrid and Yukon Hybrid are claimed to be the most aerodynamic full-size SUVs at 0.349 (cd).
The XFE – Xtra Fuel Economy – upgrades are available only on two-wheel vehicles equipped with the 5.3-litre petrol V8 and six-speed automatic transmission. They achieve 15 miles per US gallon city and 21 highway mileage ratings compared with comparable non-XFE models’ 14/20 ratings.
Towing ratings – important to buyers in this class – for the Tahoe and Yukon are unchanged, while the Silverado and Sierra increase from 6,600 pounds (2,994 kg) to 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg) due to the new, six-speed transmission and high-capacity cooling package.
“We are pulling out all the stops to deliver a more efficient package for customers who need the capability of full-size pickups and SUVs and want the very best fuel economy,” said Gary White, GM North America vice president and vehicle line executive for full-size trucks.
“Our pickups and SUVs are already the fuel economy leaders of their respective segments, but our engineers knew greater efficiency was achievable. We fast-tracked the XFE models to get them into dealer showrooms as quickly as possible.”
Production begins this autumn.
GM already offers hybrid versions of the Tahoe and Yukon that achieve up to a 50% improvement in city fuel economy and new hybrod versions of the Silverado and Sierra are due on sale in the first half of 2009, White added.
“These hybrid pickups offer up to 25% overall increased fuel economy and greater than 40% improved mileage in city driving.”
The XFE models have a 320hp 5.3-litre FlexFuel V8 with mass-reducing aluminum cylinder block and heads.
A rear axle equipped with fuel-saving 3.08 ratio is also standard on all XFE models along with light weight aluminium wheels and low rolling resistance tyres inflated to higher pressures.
also are included on all models.
The Silverado XFE and Sierra XFE also have a soft tonneau cover, extended front lower air dam andl owered suspension with revised chassis tuning to improve aerodynamics and aluminium lower control arms and an aluminium spare wheel which, along with standard 17-inch aluminium road wheels reduce mass. An automatic locking rear differential is also standard.
The Tahoe XFE and Yukon XFE SUVs have similar modifications and 18-inch wheels.
