GM’s 2001 Heavy-Duty Pickups to be Available with All-New Duramax Diesel Engines and Commercial-Duty Allison Automatic Transmissions

DETROIT, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ --

The 2001 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra heavy-duty (HD) pickups, scheduled to go into production next fall, will be available with an all-new Duramax Diesel engine and an all-new 5-speed automatic transmission from Allison Transmission. These new powertrain options promise to make diesel-equipped HD Silverado and Sierra pickups best- in-class in terms of power, performance, torque, durability and quiet operation.

Gary White, Vehicle Line Executive, Full-Size Trucks, GM Truck Group, said, “GM’s all-new full-size pickups have set new industry benchmarks. In this case, we’ve parlayed our relationships with Isuzu, the world’s largest producer of diesel engines, and Allison Transmission, the world’s largest producer of commercial-duty automatic transmissions, to create a powertrain combination that will deliver more of just about everything to truck customers with heavy-duty or commercial requirements."

Later this calendar year the company will roll out all-new full-sized sport utilities -- the new Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, as well as the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. Then, next fall, GM will introduce its 2500HD/3500/3600 Series pickups, including Crew Cab, Big Dooley and Chassis-Cab models.

"GM President, Rick Wagoner, has described the full-size truck platform as 'the economic engine that drives General Motors,' and he wasn't exaggerating a bit," White said. "That's why it's so important that every truck we bring out based on this platform be a leader in its segment. The new engine and transmission options we're announcing today will help us put the newest versions of the Silverado and Sierra into exactly that position."

Heavy Duty and Commercial Diesel Demand Growing

The growth in the pickup truck market over the past decade has been outstanding, and the portion of that market devoted to users with heavy duty hauling and/or towing needs has grown apace. This is especially true for trucks equipped with diesel engines.

"Ten years ago, the industry sold less than 10,000 diesel pickups a year in the United States," White said. "Today, customer requirements for more power and torque, coupled with a need for more efficiency and durability, have raised demand far beyond that. We think we'll see industry sales of more than 250,000 diesel pickups a year in the very near future.

"Competition is fierce out there, so we know we have to provide a product that is head-and-shoulders ahead of our competitors if we hope to be successful," White added. "We believe the all-new Duramax Diesel 6600, coupled with the new 5-speed Allison Transmission 1000 Series(TM) automatic transmission will be such a product. This combination gives us performance capabilities that our competitors can only dream about."

Duramax Diesel 6600 V8

The Duramax Diesel 6600 is an all-new, 90-degree V8 with Bosch common-rail direct-injection and an overhead valve (OHV), four-valve-per-cylinder design. It replaces GM's current 6.5-liter turbo diesel and will provide Silverado/Sierra 2500HD/3500 Pickup and Chassis-Cab customers with best-in-class power, performance, fuel efficiency, reliability and durability. In addition, it will provide best-in-class noise/vibration/harshness characteristics ... virtually eliminating the noise, shake and roughness often associated with diesel powerplants.

The new engine will meet Federal and California emissions requirements, allowing it to be sold in all 50 states, and has been designed to meet government regulations well into the 21st century.

The Duramax Diesel 6600 is the second in a totally new, growing family of GM-branded Duramax engines. The first was the Duramax 7800 (7.8-liter) Diesel introduced by GM for use in its 2000 model year medium-duty series trucks.

The Duramax engine family is the result of a joint venture (DMAX Ltd.) between GM and Isuzu Motors. GM's relationship with Isuzu began in 1971 and was strengthened in 1997 when GM announced that Isuzu would develop diesel engines for GM. Because of Isuzu's expertise in commercial vehicles and diesel engines, the company plays an important role in GM's global strategy. Isuzu is a world leader in diesel engine design and development, and has produced more than 60 million diesel engines in the past six decades.

The Duramax Diesel family is domestically sourced, and will be produced in a brand-new DMAX, Ltd. facility in Moraine, Ohio.

Allison Transmission 1000 Series(TM) 5-speed Automatic Transmission

Most of the diesel engines installed in light-duty trucks, including those of GM's primary competitors, have to be restricted in terms of power output because the automatic transmissions being used with them cannot handle more horsepower and torque.

That's the new Allison Transmission 1000 Series 5-speed's reason for being. It's specifically designed to handle all of the horsepower and torque the new Duramax Diesel 6600 can deliver, and Allison Transmission's hard-earned reputation for reliability and durability in commercial-duty applications ensures that Chevy and GMC customers will enjoy the benefits and bottom-line savings that they expect and deserve.

The 1000 Series is a fully automatic, electronic 5-speed with overdrive and a park pawl, and it offers planetary helical gearing similar to that now used in Allison Transmission's popular World Transmission. It will be produced in Allison Transmission's Indianapolis, Ind. manufacturing facility, which has recently been updated and expanded as the result of a $275-million investment by GM.

The 1000 Series(TM) is ideal for general use in trucks of up to 19,850 lbs. gross vehicle weight (GVW) and 26,000 lbs. gross combination weight (GCW). It features 5-speeds forward (with 5th gear as overdrive), a torque converter with lockup clutch and integral spring damper, and fully electronic controls.

Allison Transmission, part of the GM family since 1929, was originally founded in 1915, and is the world's leading designer, manufacturer and seller of medium- and heavy-duty automatic transmissions.

SOURCE Chevrolet Motor Division
CO: Chevrolet Motor Division; General Motors Corporation; Isuzu; Allison Transmission
ST: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana

For anyone in the Dallas, Texas area this coming September 24 - October 17, you can see the new Duramax 6600 and matching Allison transmission for yourself at the Texas State Fair. GM will have its new body style 2000 Suburban and Tahoe models on display, as well as the much-anticipated Duramax 6600 diesel engine. For more information on the Texas State Fair, visit: www.bigtex.com. A full-length feature on this engine will appear in these pages before long. Stay tuned for more late breaking news!

Duramax 6600, First Look: Pictures of the new engine and Allison transmission.

Jim Bigley