GM Reveals 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban RST

[FenwickHockey65]

RST Special Edition Brings Street Look and Power to the New Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban
Tahoe RST available with 6.2L V-8, 10-speed automatic transmission and Magnetic Ride Control
General Motors

April 6, 2017

DETROIT — Today, Chevy introduced a new special edition for the Tahoe and Suburban: the street-performance Rally Sport Truck, or RST. The Tahoe RST will also be available with a new Performance Package that includes a 420-hp, 6.2L V-8 engine; Magnetic Ride Control with performance calibration; and an all-new Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission.

“Chevrolet has continually invested in Tahoe and Suburban, developing models with varying combinations of capability, technology and performance to meet the needs of different customers,” said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Truck Marketing director. “The RST is designed for customers who want a street performance look without sacrificing capability or refinement, along with the option of increased performance as well.”

RST will be available on Tahoe and Suburban models in the fall of 2017. Inspired by aftermarket trends, virtually all chrome trim has been eliminated for a street performance appearance. Changes include body-color grille surround and door handles; gloss-black grille and mirror caps; black roof rails, window trim, badging and Chevy bowties. RST also includes exclusive 22-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone P285/45R 22 tires.

Available upgrades for Tahoe and Suburban RST include a Borla performance exhaust system that offers a 28 percent improvement in exhaust flow, for a 7-10-horsepower gain at the rear wheels. An available brake package features massive front red Brembo six-piston, fixed aluminum calipers with brake pads clamping on larger-than-stock 410 x 32mm (16.1 inch x 1.3 inch) Duralife rotors coupled with a 84 percent increase in brake pad area and a 42 percent increase in rotor area to increase system thermal capacity. Duralife™ rotors feature a hardened surface to reduce corrosion and provide quieter braking with less vibration.

The Tahoe RST will also be offered with an exclusive Performance Package that includes Magnetic Ride Control with performance calibration, 6.2L V-8 and the new 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission.

This is the first time Tahoe will offer the 6.2L V-8, which delivers an estimated 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The engine features three state-of-the-art technologies — direct injection, Active Fuel Management and continuously variable valve timing — to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions.

The 6.2L V-8 will be paired with an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. With smaller steps between each ratio, the transmission maximizes engine power under acceleration. With a wide 7.39 overall gear ratio spread and lower numerical top gear ratio, the transmission also improves efficiency by reducing engine revolutions at highway speeds.

Based on preliminary estimates, the Tahoe RST Performance Package will offer a towing capacity of 8,400 pounds and the truck will be cable of 0-60 mph acceleration in less than 6 seconds. Full performance metrics will be announced closer to launch.

Magnetic Ride Control is an active suspension that “reads” the road every millisecond, triggering damping changes in the electronically controlled shock absorbers in as few as 5 milliseconds. As a result, the suspension delivers both improved body-motion control during cornering and a more comfortable ride while cruising. The new performance calibration included in the Tahoe RST Performance Package increases body control for even higher levels of responsiveness and comfort.

“When you want to hustle, it is incredibly fast, with significantly higher levels of acceleration, braking and road-holding grip,” said Eric Stanczak, chief engineer for Chevrolet full-size trucks. “When you want to relax, it is very refined, with exceptional ride comfort and interior quietness.”

Chevrolet has been the best-selling full-size SUV brand for 42 years. Today, Tahoe and Suburban are the top two vehicles in the segment. They also account for 49.3 percent of retail sales, or nearly one out of every two full-size SUVs Americans bought in 2016. Tahoe and Suburban customers are also the most loyal owners in the segment, with 79 percent of owners replacing their vehicle with another Tahoe or Suburban.

Photography

[ChevyRules]

Back in the day when GM abused the SS moniker, this might have been a Tahoe SS/Suburban SS......

But certainly interesting and wonder how many will buy the package. Also interesting they go back to their usual transmission naming scheme with the 10L80 where the ZL1's 10 speed is 10R90.....

[5thGenOwner]

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

Back in the day when GM abused the SS moniker, this might have been a Tahoe SS/Suburban SS......

But certainly interesting and wonder how many will buy the package. Also interesting they go back to their usual transmission naming scheme with the 10L80 where the ZL1's 10 speed is 10R90.....

Haha, true. But ever since they got so lazy and named a car "SS", they destroyed any nostalgic meaning behind that moniker... the ultimate abuse. Used to say I have a Camaro SS... now I just say, "it's a V8".

[KMPrenger]

Hrrmmm...interesting. Its more than just a sticker/wheel package. Nice.

But what I'm really curious about now is....will they make an RST Silverado? Bring it on boys.

I know it will never happen, but if they made an RST Colorado with a V8 engine and MRC, I think I might actually be tempted to trade both my Camaro and my current 1st gen Colorado for it.

[SSEssence]

That would make a nice daily! Very nice

[DGthe3]

From what I've been able to find, this is still mostly an appearance package but with an optional performance package on top of that. Standard engine is still the 5.3

[Camaro_Corvette]

Hmm, I like but I'm not sure 420 hp is enough to really make people go gaga over it. Needs 500.

I love that part of the package is a "Chrome Delete" A black one of these would be tough to turn down.

[DRKS1D3]

Originally Posted by Camaro_Corvette

Hmm, I like but I'm not sure 420 hp is enough to really make people go gaga over it. Needs 500.

I love that part of the package is a "Chrome Delete" A black one of these would be tough to turn down.

GM claims a 5.7ish 0-60 time. That is nothing to shake a stick at for a large SUV. This thing will be wicked, but it will also come with a HEFTY price tag.

[JerTM]

So, the optional 6.2L in the Yukon Denali is now available in the Tahoe/Suburban. Sure they upgraded some pretty parts, brakes, and included some decent shocks. But no real innovation for the GM SUV.

[KMPrenger]

Originally Posted by JerTM

So, the optional 6.2L in the Yukon Denali is now available in the Tahoe/Suburban. Sure they upgraded some pretty parts, brakes, and included some decent shocks. But no real innovation for the GM SUV.

No...its no innovation. But its still nice.

[crysalis_01]

It's a great option. This way those who concern themselves with such matters won't have to have less horsepower than the new Expedition.
I wonder if we'll see a higher take rate percentage for the 6.2 SUV's vs the Silverado?

[JerTM]

Originally Posted by crysalis_01

It's a great option. This way those who concern themselves with such matters won't have to have less horsepower than the new Expedition.
I wonder if we'll see a higher take rate percentage for the 6.2 SUV's vs the Silverado?

The package is where the difference will be. Compared to the trucks that were just an engine/trans upgrade. IMO GM didn't go far enough, but it is quite a few steps ahead of their recent love affair with stupid appearance packages.

[cooden]

I think that once again, Chevy is not only late to the party but they came to the party dressed in their dirty underwear. Everything is a damn option--the 6.2L with 10-speed tranny, the Brembo brakes (front only) and the Borla exhaust. It's going to be available in LT or Premier package--and the LT models don't have HID headlights. Nothing screams technology like spending $60K+ on a vehicle to only have halogen headlights. I bet you that the Tahoe RST Premier with all the options will be more than a Denali.

Don't get me started on the interior--it's exactly the same. No brushed aluminum trim to replace the fake wood? How about a squared bottom steering wheel like the Durango SRT, Grand Cherokee SRT & Mercedes Benz AMG SUV's? How about using nappa leather seats? How about red seats to show the sportiness (like Dodge, Jeep, Audi & BMW)? How about lowering the truck 2" to showcase a better stance? The other companies do it and it looks great.

I've said this before--my Durango R/T is my first non-GM/Mopar vehicle and it is great. Almost 38K miles in 1.5 years and ZERO issues. Sporty, fast, good interior, better quality leather than the Tahoe, Uconnect kills Chevy Mylink & handles well for a 7-passenger SUV--and this is the R/T version. With the Durango SRT coming out, the Tahoe RST can't even compete. The Durango SRT has a better interior, Brembos at every wheel, more power, more towing capacity & more power.

Chevy really needs to step it up and go head to head with the Durango SRT/Grand Cherokee SRT market!

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by cooden

Chevy really needs to step it up and go head to head with the Durango SRT/Grand Cherokee SRT market!

Admittedly, this is a small percentage of the overall market for these vehicles. Not that I wouldn't love to see a true SS.