GM Inside News Forum - View Single Post - GM to move Tahoe and Yukon to light platform, more hybrid variants

MCGARRETT · 06-09-2008, 04:02 PM

I dont think that they mean FWD Crossover like the Lambda's, but I could see perhaps a unitized construction with RWD and an independent rear suspension to increase the interior room while keeping the exterior the same or maybe even making it a little smaller.

Improved aerodynamics, slightly lower rooflines more raked winshields.

The thing is that a current 2WD 4800 V8 Tahoe LS weighs 5265lbs, the heaviest Lambda, an AWD Buick Enclave CXL tips the scales at 4985lbs, thats only 280lbs where do you go? Really an Enclave is about 1 inch shorter than a Tahoe and has similar if not more interior space.

I could see a 4800lbs unitized Tahoe with perhaps a 4.0 litre "heavy duty" DI V6 as the base motor(why not? the current 3.6 DI makes more power than the base Tahoe V8) with an optional DI 5.0 litre V8 and the 4.5 litre mini-Duramax, using 6speed automatics or even the rummored 8 speed automatic that GM is maybe working on, next gen 2 mode? Who knows...

The thing is that an under 5000lb RWD vehicle the size of the Tahoe still seems to be a tough nut to crack, I would rather they wait and see and try to make the curren Tahoe/Yukon lighter, maybe more aluminum and lighter weight materials, work on some aerodynamic improvements on the current "Yukhoe" which is only a couple of years old.

06-09-2008, 04:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
MCGARRETT 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,003	Re: GM to move Tahoe and Yukon to light platform, more hybrid variants I dont think that they mean FWD Crossover like the Lambda's, but I could see perhaps a unitized construction with RWD and an independent rear suspension to increase the interior room while keeping the exterior the same or maybe even making it a little smaller. Improved aerodynamics, slightly lower rooflines more raked winshields. The thing is that a current 2WD 4800 V8 Tahoe LS weighs 5265lbs, the heaviest Lambda, an AWD Buick Enclave CXL tips the scales at 4985lbs, thats only 280lbs where do you go? Really an Enclave is about 1 inch shorter than a Tahoe and has similar if not more interior space. I could see a 4800lbs unitized Tahoe with perhaps a 4.0 litre "heavy duty" DI V6 as the base motor(why not? the current 3.6 DI makes more power than the base Tahoe V8) with an optional DI 5.0 litre V8 and the 4.5 litre mini-Duramax, using 6speed automatics or even the rummored 8 speed automatic that GM is maybe working on, next gen 2 mode? Who knows... The thing is that an under 5000lb RWD vehicle the size of the Tahoe still seems to be a tough nut to crack, I would rather they wait and see and try to make the curren Tahoe/Yukon lighter, maybe more aluminum and lighter weight materials, work on some aerodynamic improvements on the current "Yukhoe" which is only a couple of years old.