What Gen V Means For GM’s New Trucks

[nsap]

GM plans to rival EcoBoost with a V-8. Will it work?
www.GMInsideNews.com
October 31, 2012
By: Nick Saporito

Last week GM hosted media for a new product reveal, but it wasn’t a vehicle. Instead, the company revealed their long anticipated next iteration of the coveted Small Block V-8. While the event focused almost exclusively on the new V-8’s flagship application, the 2014 Corvette, there is no question that this new V-8 is far more critical for GM’s next generation trucks.

The Generation V Small Block is essentially a ground-up redesign of the engine with retention of the fundamentals that make a Small Block a Small Block in the first place. Details of the new engine are vast and very technical, but the gist of it is fairly simple…the new Small Block is more powerful, more fuel-efficient and a beacon of GM’s engineering might.

At the event GM only spoke of a 6.2-liter, but of course, there will be others for the trucks. GMI has been told from multiple sources, including dealers that attended recent dealer meetings about the trucks, that the fairly iconic 5.3-liter displacement will remain intact on the 2014 trucks.

In fact, dealers at the meetings have stated that GM intends for the all-new 5.3-liter V-8 to rival Ford’s successful twin-turbo V-6 in the F-150 in both power and fuel economy. It is unclear what the new 5.3-liter will be rated at, though most sources have suggested that the engine will see a sizable increase in power, likely up to or near Ford’s EcoBoost V-6, which is rated at 365 horsepower and 420 foot-pounds of torque.

Aside from the 5.3-liter, the 6.2-liter V-8 is also said to remain in the 2014 trucks. Like the 5.3-liter, it too will be all new and see a sizable power increase. In car applications the new 6.2-liter will be rated at 450 horsepower or more, but it’s likely a safe bet that the truck application of this engine will be rated lower in horsepower with a stronger focus on torque.

Last week’s announcement suggests heavily that both new truck V-8’s will have features that we all knew were prerequisites to GM’s new trucks being taken seriously. Direct fuel injection, a more extensive variable valve timing and more aggressive Active Fuel Management are almost certainties with the new truck V-8’s.

The extensive amount of engineering that has gone into the new Small Block architecture is vast and an interesting gamble on GM’s part. Just as Ford rakes in accolades and sales with a twin-turbo V-6 truck, GM is rivaling it with an all new V-8. It’s far too early to know if this is a bet that will pay off, but last week’s announcement suggests that the new truck V-8’s hold a good chance of being the best in the truck segment.

Why is GM staying out of the twin-turbo V-6 truck game? Well, there are several reasons. First off, GM’s upcoming twin-turbo V-6 isn’t ready for prime time yet. At this time the engine is still in development and would not be ready for when the trucks launch in 2013. Second of all, it’s starting to look like the Gen V Small Block could be a viable alternative to a boosted six. The trick for GM will be convincing the public that their super high tech V-8 is just as advanced as a boosted six.

Over time it is expected that GM will add a twin-turbo V-6 to their full size trucks. The timetable for such is unknown, but if it is approved, expect it to launch around the same time as GM’s eight-speed automatic transmissions, which will be about a year after the launch of the trucks next year.

At this point, everyone is just waiting for the official power and fuel economy figures of the 2014 Silverado and Sierra, while hopefully arise in December.

[Diggerdan11]

If they can get the 5.3 to have similar power and economy as the Ecoboost, that would be amazing. Give me a powerful and efficient V8 any day over a TTV6.

[Mcmflow]

Sounds good, as long as the 5.3 can match the pwer and fuel economy of the Ecoboost, it should be fine. Hopefully the V6 economy can meet the Ram's 25MPG. Personally MPG will be a big factor for me next go around. I almost never tow anything, and the most use I get out of the bed is helping someone move. And for me to move back down to a midsize, it would have to have a signifigant advantage in both MPG and price for me to consider it.

[Eulentier]

Ford’s EcoBoost V-6, which is rated at 365 horsepower and 385 foot-pounds of torque.

The 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 in the F150 is actually rated at 420 foot-pounds of torque. (http://www.cars.com/ford/f150/2013/s...=USC30FOT116C0)

While I am uncertain the new Gen V 5.3L V8 will be able to match 420 foot-pounds of torque, I'm sure it will get 365 or more HP. As long as it gets better gas mileage (at least 25 MPG) it should be a good contender.

[DenaliHD66]

Called it as far as the power numbers. Also Ford's ecoboost is 420 lb/ft torque in their trucks, not 385.

[Al63240]

I think the biggest obstacle is that people may only see that GM is choosing to stick with v8's. No matter how much more technologically advanced it might be over the last generation or even that it may match the EB v6, all they will see is that it's still a v8. Time will tell.

[61BelAir]

Will the 4.8L be discontinued? It should be IMO, with the 5.3L as the entry level V8.

[Z284ever]

Simpler is usually better. If a 5.3 can beat the competition in power, torque, FE and do it in a simpler, more compact package which I'm sure will be at least $1000-$1500 less expensive to produce........well, that's a win in my book.

[61BelAir]

I think the biggest obstacle is that people may only see that GM is choosing to stick with v8's. No matter how much more technologically advanced it might be over the last generation or even that it may match the EB v6, all they will see is that it's still a v8. Time will tell.

I'm with Diggerdan11, I'll take the V8 over the TTV6 anyday if the mileage is comparable. I just wish the 8 speed trannys would be available when they release the trucks, not 1 to 2 years later.

[Z284ever]

Will the 4.8L be discontinued? It should be IMO, with the 5.3L as the entry level V8.

Yes.

[kylepo]

The 5.3 already gets the same mileage as the EB fords. The eco boost currently has more power. But as long as there is no changes to fords specs the GEN V 5.3 will have more Power and better FE than a EB 3.5 and thats a 2k option. why bother with fancy TT stuff when your current tried and true small block can get it done for less money

[DenaliHD66]

Should the V8 die, the heart of America dies also, and one cannot function without his heart...

[asrapid1]

GM plans to rival EcoBoost with a V-8. Will it work?
www.GMInsideNews.com
October 31, 2012
By: Nick Saporito

Aside from the 5.3-liter, the 6.2-liter V-8 is also said to remain in the 2014 trucks. Like the 5.3-liter, it too will be all new and see a sizable power increase. In car applications the new 6.2-liter will be rated at 450 horsepower or more, but it’s likely a safe bet that the truck application of this engine will be rated lower in horsepower with a stronger focus on torque.

Last week’s announcement suggests heavily that both new truck V-8’s will have features that we all knew were prerequisites to GM’s new trucks being taken seriously. Direct fuel injection, a more extensive variable valve timing and more aggressive Active Fuel Management are almost certainties with the new truck V-8’s.

The extensive amount of engineering that has gone into the new Small Block architecture is vast and an interesting gamble on GM’s part. Just as Ford rakes in accolades and sales with a twin-turbo V-6 truck, GM is rivaling it with an all new V-8. It’s far too early to know if this is a bet that will pay off, but last week’s announcement suggests that the new truck V-8’s hold a good chance of being the best in the truck segment.
The trick for GM will be convincing the public that their super high tech V-8 is just as advanced as a boosted six.
Over time it is expected that GM will add a twin-turbo V-6 to their full size trucks. The timetable for such is unknown, but if it is approved, expect it to launch around the same time as GM’s eight-speed automatic transmissions, which will be about a year after the launch of the trucks next year.
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I don't follow SUV and trucks market so much but I do have couple of questions.
What is a max hp and torque which a Ecoboost v6 can safely achieve? Will there be any upgrade to that engine in near future (2 years)?
If i understand 5.3 v8 will have similar (or even less) torque and HP than present ecoboost v6.
Will v6 TT from GM be used first in trucks or in cars?
Is a v6 ecoboost top engine in a ford trucks? Is a v6 TT better selling than v8? How good (or bad) is durability of ecoboost engine in a truck?

[derek77]

I don't know why people go so head over heals for the Ecoboost 3.5. You hear it has 365 hp 420lb-ft, 22mpg, and can tow 11K lbs. Sure, you can get an F150 with 365hp and 420lb-ft, but it can't get 22mpg AND tow 11K lbs. You have to either get 3.15 gears to get 22 mpg. Or you have to get 3.73 with a special package to tow 11K lbs. I hope everyone has looked at this. So be careful on feeding the hype.

But the EB3.5 is still a sweet motor. It's just not the do everything, be everything in ONE truck.

[KingElvis]

While we are focusing on the engines, remember that this is not an engine comparison for fuel economy, it's the whole vehicle. I think where the the 'on paper' numbers don't look as good (I will play oracle here and peg the new 5.3L at 350hp) the way the VEHICLE performs - 0-60mph and city/hwy fuel economy will match the EB.

Why?

Weight. If the Silvy loses the expected 500lbs, then it will be about half a *ton* lighter than the already overweight F150.

So on paper you have less HP, but it pulls, hauls and accelerates just as good or better. The decreased weight should really help city fuel economy too.