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GM to move Tahoe and Yukon to light platform, more hybrid variants
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7,881 Posts
Imagine that. Making LIGHT platforms...
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23,308 Posts
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.
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2,371 Posts
I say leave them as they are. GM should be spending its money in other places before it updates the GMT-900
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8,969 Posts
Sad to see this happening so quickly but glad that GM isn't waiting to bleed millions before reacting to the fuel epidemic.
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7,975 Posts
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.
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.
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4,391 Posts
"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.
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21,466 Posts
Yukon XL/Suburban better stay BOF. Tahoe/Yukon should move to a lightened BOF or a very very overstretched Zeta/Sigma.
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Check out my post on the death of the H2 Hummer for my ideas on the Tahoe/Yukon, Suburban/Yukon XL, and large pickups:
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f18/jalopnik-gm-killing-hummer-h2-after-2011-a-61852/index4.html#post1342807
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.
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f18/jalopnik-gm-killing-hummer-h2-after-2011-a-61852/index4.html#post1342807
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.
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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?
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?
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1,410 Posts
Gas prices won't kill off anything. The cost of owning a vehicle in this segment will just go up. Both cost of purchasing (these vehicles will become a niche segment), and the cost of owning (gas). Lighter platforms and more efficient engines will just be what it takes to compete in this segment from now on.
Traverse and the new Equinox will be taking up a lot of the slack.
Traverse and the new Equinox will be taking up a lot of the slack.
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Not exactly new news. That's been rumored for a while now.
Now that GM is going to do thing, perhaps GM should take the time to actually repackage the vehicles sh they're not so cramped inside.
Furthermore, GM should take the opportunity to move the Escalades to a CUV platform -- perhaps a modified Zeta-ish platform.
Make it a trun premium car, not some unconvincing rebage of a truck.
Now that GM is going to do thing, perhaps GM should take the time to actually repackage the vehicles sh they're not so cramped inside.
Furthermore, GM should take the opportunity to move the Escalades to a CUV platform -- perhaps a modified Zeta-ish platform.
Make it a trun premium car, not some unconvincing rebage of a truck.
Just rename the upcoming Traverse with the Tahoe name and call it good the Lambdas have more interior room anyway. If you need to tow a 8000 lb boat leave that to the Silverado/Suburbans as these SUVs in $4-5 gas won't survive.
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GM most certainly isn't waiting to bleed millions before reacting to the fuel epidemic - they've already kicked the "bleeding millions" thing into high-gear...
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They'd might as well just kill them now. No point for two minivans the exact same size on the same wimpy chassis.
And I really don't appreciate ruining the Yukon and Tahoe nameplates like this. I could care less about the Escalade, but the others are worth saving.
I guess the Sequioa and Expedition are all that's left now that the Armada is going to be Chryslerized with the next redesign.
And I really don't appreciate ruining the Yukon and Tahoe nameplates like this. I could care less about the Escalade, but the others are worth saving.
I guess the Sequioa and Expedition are all that's left now that the Armada is going to be Chryslerized with the next redesign.
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