GM to move Tahoe and Yukon to light platform, more hybrid variants

[drew630]

GM to move Tahoe and Yukon to light platform, more hybrid variants

You know it’s really sad that it took gas-prices reaching an average of $4 a gallon for such moves to take place, but like they say; better late than never. According to source, GM is considering shifting its two big gas-guzzling SUVs, the Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon, to a lighter and more fuel-efficient platform.
While the future of other big SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Suburban are unclear, it is possible that all will be produced in very limited numbers using alternative fuel-efficient powertrains to offset the rising gas-prices.

[Hurricane]

Interesting news...

[Quickening]

Imagine that. Making LIGHT platforms...

[paul8488]

Like Lambda? The Traverse, Acadia, and Enclave are already near Tahoe and Yukon sized, and are better packaged. Why on earth would they waste the money designing another large vehicle like that? There will always be a need for large full-frame SUVs... they just need to produce fewer of them.

[AMcA]

Yeah, they might want to rethink establishing the "Traverse" name, when they're going to have to use that very platform to remake the Tahoe.

[jkennedy293]

I say leave them as they are. GM should be spending its money in other places before it updates the GMT-900

[likearock00]

Sad to see this happening so quickly but glad that GM isn't waiting to bleed millions before reacting to the fuel epidemic.

[MCGARRETT]

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.

[GM-10]

Very good news.

It will be interesting to see if this means a move to Unibody or some ultralight BOF platform.

[GMusa]

"light platform".... a.k.a The Acadia, Enclave, Traverse, and Outlook(which should be killed off) These 4 vehicles are already on a "light" carlike platform and they are about the size of the Tahoe/Yukon in regards to cargo/passenger volume so what else could GM do with the Tahoe and Yukon?? I can actually see these vehicles dying out and GM just keeping the Surburban and Yukon XL. They also need to keep the Escalade.. but GM could probably do without the ESV and EXT Escalades.

[GMusa]

GM will probably keep some fullsize SUV's on a truck platform for people who actually needs them. And people who just like the size and room will go for the Lambda crossovers.

[ZR1-S10]

I can see the Tahoe and Yukon moved over to Zeta, and the suburben and Yukon XL staying fullsize for a GMT1000 platfrom.

[FenwickHockey65]

Yukon XL/Suburban better stay BOF. Tahoe/Yukon should move to a lightened BOF or a very very overstretched Zeta/Sigma.

[eb110americana]

Check out my post on the death of the H2 Hummer for my ideas on the Tahoe/Yukon, Suburban/Yukon XL, and large pickups:

Jalopnik: GM Killing Hummer H2 After 2011

There are people than need room for numerous passengers. In their case, wagons, minivans, and CUVs are better choices, in that order. There are people that need room for lots of cargo, again the same vehicles are better suited or a pickup is in order. There are people that need to tow heavy items. Most of them want rather than need to tow their boats, camper, or other recreational vehicles a few times a year. They may be better off renting something for those few days than using more vehicle than is necessary the rest of the year. For those who still want to tow with their SUV, I think GM can meet those needs with a creative option on a lighter unibody. There are those that need to tow for work reasons, and they probably already use a pick up truck. Then there are those that require off road prowess, and that can be met with ground clearance in a smaller vehicle. For the small few that can't use any of the preceding vehicles, a single large Hummer should suffice.

When you combine all of the above requirements: passenger space, cargo space, towing, and off roading, I think that there are very few people who would say they need all 4 in one SUV. Especially when it comes at the expense of fuel economy, ride, handling, seat storage, or the ability to excel at any 1 of the 4 tasks. As gas prices go up, many people are seeing this very thing for themselves and are looking to alternative solutions.

[AndrewGS]

If they can do it similar to the Mercedes GL that's fine, but if they make it a super-sized Lambda I will become a serial killer.

For the life of me, I can't see how the 900s are "heavy" and "gas guzzling". The Tahoe/Youkon gets a combined 16MPG (4WD), tows 8,200lbs., seats five adults and two kids comfortably and can carry almost 109cu. ft./1,800lbs. of cargo while weighing just over 5,500lbs. In comparison, the unitized Mercedes GL450 gets a combined 15MPG, tows 7,500lbs., seats four adults and two kids comfortably, carries just over 83cu. ft./1,200lbs of cargo and weighs 5,280lbs.

If they increase the fuel economy by 3MPG by going "light" they still won't sell like they did five years ago. Just face the music and build REAL SUVs (you know, ones that aren't afraid of getting dirty, think GMT-400) at a much slower pace. Why not build all FS SUV variants in one plant? Why not build them to be globally acceptable, world-class machines (that means RHD compatibility, diesel power and off-road prowess) to export and make more money?