Trucks and Innovation

[fish5225]

Dear GM: I have owned a GM truck for most of my adult life. Please come out with a new diesel engine, something along the lines of the new Audi V12 diesel, 500 hp, 650 ft/lb of tq, gas mileage over 20mpg for your 1/2 ton trucks. I cannot imagine how many you will sell. If a second class German company can do it, certainly you can match!!! After that, bring back the 4 wheel steering and actually market it for something besides towing. It is the best invention ever for city driving and parking in these long wheel base vehicles.

[str8line]

Originally Posted by fish5225

second class German company

[Smaart Aas Saabr]

Originally Posted by fish5225

Dear GM: I have owned a GM truck for most of my adult life. Please come out with a new diesel engine, something along the lines of the new Audi V12 diesel, 500 hp, 650 ft/lb of tq, gas mileage over 20mpg for your 1/2 ton trucks. I cannot imagine how many you will sell. If a second class German company can do it, certainly you can match!!! After that, bring back the 4 wheel steering and actually market it for something besides towing. It is the best invention ever for city driving and parking in these long wheel base vehicles.

Duramax

The Audi engine is more a passenger car unit. It's also a detuned LeMans car engine! Get GM to take the C5-R engine and cut it back a bit and stick it in the Silverado

Doesn't the Duramax put out 330 horsepower and some crazy torque number? Like a thousand lb-ft or something nuts?

[mini1]

I'm sure that would be flocks of people rushing to buy a V12 DMax 1500........ohhh, wait no there wouldn't. Something more realisitc, like a V8 Dmax would work much better. There is a very stong market for that in a 1500.

[likearock00]

I love when people write threads telling GM what THEY want instead of what would sell in mass quantities. GM did quadra-steer.....it didn't sell and was extremely expensive to produce. The v12 diesel would sell poorly also. GM does not need to produce anything that won't sell.

[fish5225]

Kris: The point is to have a little innovation to maybe stay ahead of the competition. I have Quadrasteer. It is awesome. Best invention yet for driving in the city. The reason it didn't sell was because GM only marketed it to people who tow. Poor marketing on one product doesn't mean they should stop trying. More people drive trucks as every day vehicles, on the highway and in the city. Why do you think the new trucks are better handling and much quieter. Because it sells. Make a diesel engine for the every day driver who occasionally tows and you will sell a bunch. The noisy Duramax is not what most people want in their everyday truck. They want quiet power with good gas mileage, just like the Audi engine. Diesels can make more power with the same fuel efficiency, they are 20% more efficient. It is time someone stepped up to the plate.

[chakis24]

theres a half ton diesel in the works so ive heard. and i agree with the quadrasteer, although it was pricey, its a cool idea.

[maxaccel]

Originally Posted by fish5225

Dear GM: I have owned a GM truck for most of my adult life. Please come out with a new diesel engine, something along the lines of the new Audi V12 diesel, 500 hp, 650 ft/lb of tq, gas mileage over 20mpg for your 1/2 ton trucks. I cannot imagine how many you will sell. If a second class German company can do it, certainly you can match!!! After that, bring back the 4 wheel steering and actually market it for something besides towing. It is the best invention ever for city driving and parking in these long wheel base vehicles.

.Ive heard that Cadilac will get a v6 diesel with 400lbs of torque,something I would definitely like to see in a half ton trucks!!

[fenderbender]

There is a smaller diesel coming to the 1500s/ anything it will fit into in 09 or 10. It will be sweet!

[member12]

I agree. I think every year we are going to see a couple of spikes in fuel prices for at least 10 years or so. It would be nice to have a fuel effcient truck, esp considering that mid size trucks like the Tacoma, Colorado, and Dakota don't get any better mileage than the full sizers....so there is no alternative for us yet.

While $2.75- $3.00 per gallon fuel doesn't warrant the extra cost of a full 2 mode hybrid, it makes since to get a diesel engine that gets similar power and %20 better fuel economy.

If they can keep the diesel engine option under $3500, then I am all for it. A smaller diesel shouldn't need an Allision transmission. I don't care about the setup....so a V6 version of the current duramax probably wouldn't be too bad. Hell, a 4 cylinder version of that beast can probably still move a 1/2 truck fairly well.

A diesel combined with electric power steering (that doesn't feel weird), six speed manuals and autos, and improvements in the air conditioning and other power equipment makes 20-25 mpg of fuel quite possible in a truck.

After they get that, then maybe a single mode hybrid option that shuts off the truck at drive thrus, traffic lights, etc could save more fuel.

[doh]

Originally Posted by fish5225

Kris: The point is to have a little innovation to maybe stay ahead of the competition. I have Quadrasteer. It is awesome. Best invention yet for driving in the city. The reason it didn't sell was because GM only marketed it to people who tow. Poor marketing on one product doesn't mean they should stop trying. More people drive trucks as every day vehicles, on the highway and in the city. Why do you think the new trucks are better handling and much quieter. Because it sells. Make a diesel engine for the every day driver who occasionally tows and you will sell a bunch. The noisy Duramax is not what most people want in their everyday truck. They want quiet power with good gas mileage, just like the Audi engine. Diesels can make more power with the same fuel efficiency, they are 20% more efficient. It is time someone stepped up to the plate.

Quadrasteer didn't sell well because of the $8700 cdn option price, for an option, that well looked very vulnerable as a truck option. Any off roading and repair costs would be astronomical.

I do agree that it is a super option, but just delivered on the wrong vehicle. Towing was better handled by 1500HD or 3/4-1 tons. Downtown parking would have been more attractive for Soccer Moms and thier Yukon/Tahoes.

[igor]

if you want Diesel in a half ton .. look into Ford's stand at next NAIAS - 350hp 520ft/lb of Torque 4.4l V8 Turbo Diesel in the new F150...

Igor

[member12]

Originally Posted by igor

if you want Diesel in a half ton .. look into Ford's stand at next NAIAS - 350hp 520ft/lb of Torque 4.4l V8 Turbo Diesel in the new F150...

Igor

Sounds expensive....does Ford have a tranny for it?

Either way...since it's a Ford, I'd have to wait a year after it's on the market to buy.

[igor]

Originally Posted by member12

Sounds expensive....does Ford have a tranny for it?

Either way...since it's a Ford, I'd have to wait a year after it's on the market to buy.

they have 2 new 6speeds just starting production .. one of htem strong enough for the 6.4l Diesel in the SD .. the other one is weaker ... I am not sure which one will be put in - don't know the specs. Both are US built.

Igor

[smjhays]

one of those 6-speeds is the GM HydraMatic, which GM & Ford created together. Only programming and wiring harnesses (sp?) are different (between the Ford verison & the GM).