Will there be a Duramax Suburban?

[Buck]

The Allison will NOT fit in the new GMT-900 'Burb, without a body lift of some sort. It was in the latest Truck Trend mag. (if you can believe them)

GM needs to get off their rears and get a Diesel in the 1500 pickups and the tahoe/'burb lineup. It needs to be capable of 25+mpg and they won't be able to build enough of them. I heard the new 6 speed auto in the Escalades are really nice.....

[More Power]

Regarding a new Duramax Suburban, we've waited in eager anticipation for seven years now. Here are my thoughts...

GM's latest web site explains why a gas engine offering in their medium-duty line-up is a worthwhile consideration, and perhaps hints at why GM is not bullish on diesel. The following was clipped from their web site.

The advantages of gas:
1- Gas engines cost less than diesel engines.
2- Gasoline is more universally available.
3- Quiet operation.
4- Good solution for lower-mileage applications.
5- Easy to service.
6- Fast cab heater warm-up.

GM has kept its finger in the pie, and has developed many diesel Suburban prototypes in the past seven years - using both the Duramax 6600 and a V-6 derivative. In my opinion, they haven't moved on it because of a lack of corporate will. Their V-6 was poised to pounce, but when Ford dropped their V-6 PSD, the V-6 Duramax was quietly moved off the table. GM was waiting for Ford to break the ice - i.e. to assume more of the risk in market development.

We've been told the Duramax/Allison won't fit the Suburban without a body lift. GM has said a body lift would make the Suburban more prone to roll-overs. I think these are valid points. All it would take is a change in the die that stamps the floor-pan to accomodate the Allison. But, the Allison is not necessary for a Suburban. The G-series cargo vans are available with the Duramax 6600 and 4L85-E automatic. Why not the Suburban?

Back in 2001-2002 period, I was told that GM was selling all of the gas Suburbans it could produce, and the question was posed to me, "Why would we complicate the manufacturing process by offering a diesel engine?"

If Ford began offering a new diesel SUV, GM would soon follow. They already have the diesel programs, they already have the engines, they already have the prototypes. They just need a little corporate will - in my opinion. So do Ford and Dodge.

Jim

[DieselMonk]

Because the van doesn't have the allison. it uses the 4L80E and thus the 6.6L Dmax has to be derated and everything fits together nice without a body lift. Heck I fried the 4l80e @ 65000km with my 6.0l. so much for durability. I would not put a 4l80e on a DMax, derated or not.

[Buck]

you are gonna have failures in the real world... that is just the way it is.

I was reading that Toytoa has bought a 5.9% stake in Isuzu. Last April GM sold it's 7.9% stake in Isuzu. Does this mean the Duramax will come to a end soon, after a contract runs out or something like that.....
Toyota is coming out swinging with their new Tundra...A diesel in the near future. They are hoping to gain more popularity by entering the Nextel Cup this year. Seems people are giving in, I see lots of their vehicles everyday. I hate it when people say Toyota is built in the US, it's American....so what the bottom line goes back to Japan. I would drive a Ford before a Toyota.

[STPETEBLUE]

I hate it when people say Toyota is built in the US, it's American....so what the bottom line goes back to Japan. I would drive a Ford before a Toyota.

[Prestonia24]

Amen... I refuse to buy Japanese Imports, People always try to tell me "Made in America" blah blah blah... like the Nissan Plant in Smyrna, TN (near where my dad lives). They just laid off a bunch of employees (in america) because the economy wasn't so good (in japan).

So, as was previously stated before: "Who cares if it's made in america, if the bottom line goes to japan?"

[More Power]

Except that Ford already did that with the diesel Excursion and GM, well, did nothing.

The Excursion has been on the knife edge of elimination from day one. GM has been watching... The vehicle is too large, and not fuel efficient enough to secure its place in the market. In general, while guys like the idea of a Superduty family wagon, soccer moms aren't into the big-n-tall long-n-wide diesel mall cruisers. A V-6 diesel Expedition would be a lot more popular.... As would a Tahoe or Yukon.

Jim

[StrangeEngine]

If Ford began offering a new diesel SUV, GM would soon follow. They already have the diesel programs, they already have the engines, they already have the prototypes. They just need a little corporate will - in my opinion. So do Ford and Dodge.

Except that Ford already did that with the diesel Excursion and GM, well, did nothing.

Sigh. I'd trade my '02 2500HD in for a GMT-900 Suburban/Yukon XL with a diesel motor right now.

- Mark