GM to Use Aluminum Bodies on Next Gen Trucks

[Number 3]

GM has led so many times and not gotten credit for it for the most part. GM had aluminum lift gates on the Tahoe and Trailblazer long before anyone else. GM launched and perfected Super Plastic Forming of Aluminum to get otherwise unstampable lift gates for the Malibu Maxx and deccklids for the Cadillac STS. No credit. GM has aluminum doors on the new CTS and barely a mention.

Technology wise I could go on and on. EV1, 4 wheel steer pickups, plastic pickup boxes, carbon fiber hood on the C5 Corvette LeMans special edition, hybrid pickups and full size SUVs.

Yes some things failed but GM led and did so often. Many times the follower got more credit than GM. Lots of reasons for that including poor application choices I.e. Hybrid full size pickups.

Oh yeah and Volt.

[Azzkker]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

GM trucks have had squared off wheel wells for ages.

last time I checked my 2011 2500HD duramax did not have a super squared off wheel arch like the new trucks. The new ones have a really square look when at eye level and it really looks stupid. Not a big fan of the new suv's either, to much influence from Toyota, Nissan and infinity for my liking.

But everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Originally Posted by Kyle2k

Big risk, big reward

Hence the sometimes

[derklug]

"The CAFE are coming, the CAFE are coming" all of the big three will be making more and more weight savings and engine changes in the next 5 years. It's that or pay fines that would price the trucks out of the market.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Azzkker

last time I checked my 2011 2500HD duramax did not have a super squared off wheel arch like the new trucks. The new ones have a really square look when at eye level and it really looks stupid. Not a big fan of the new suv's either, to much influence from Toyota, Nissan and infinity for my liking.

But everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I don't see a whole lot of difference in the squareness of the wheel arches. I don't care about the squareness of the wheel arches, frankly I think they suit a truck that is generally squared off & blocky. The main difference I can see is that the radius in the corner might be a little bit tighter on the new one, but I don't think anyone would say that they aren't both squared off.

2011 Silverado



2014 Silverado

[King T]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

GM has always been too risk averse. Even more so after the bankruptcy.

Like Kyle said, the midsize trucks are probably the first big gamble GM's taken in a while. Especially with the diesel.

Very true Fen. The bankruptcy pushed back, delayed, and put on hold indefinitely a lot of things.

Another unfortunare casualty of the time was the 4.5L Duramax Diesel

This is from 2009:


The revolutionary 4.5-liter turbo-diesel is put on indefinite hold as a result of GM’s economic woes.
GM Shelves Small Duramax Diesel V-8

Despite being hyped for its innovative design and potential to significantly improve the fuel economy of full-size trucks, General Motors is placing on indefinite hold plans to introduce a new 4.5-liter Duramax V-8 turbo-diesel in 2010 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups. The embattled Detroit automaker says the decision is due to the dire state of the economy and the effect it’s having on the automotive industry. The development also adds to recent changes GM has made to its U.S. product portfolio, such as delaying the Cadillac CTS coupe, discontinuing the Cadillac XLR roadster, and disbanding its High-Performance Vehicle Operations as it seeks government loans to continue doing business.

All-New Design

GM essentially gave its engineers a clean sheet of paper to create the new 4.5-liter Duramax V-8. The compact DOHC, 32-valve engine was designed to slot into the same space as a conventional small-block V-8. To do this, engineers started with a compacted graphite iron block and aluminum cylinder heads, yet flipped the heads around in order to reverse the airflow and eliminate unnecessary plumbing. Unlike a conventional V-8, which sucks in air through a central location and disperses it to the two cylinder banks, the new Duramax’s air intakes are integrated into the camshaft covers atop the cylinder heads. Air then flows through the heads, out through integrated aluminum exhaust manifolds, and into a variable-vane turbocharger nestled in the valley between the cylinders.

This arrangement makes the engine very narrow, while reducing much of the piping needed to move the air from the exhaust-driven turbocharger to the front-mounted intercooler. In addition, it allows the engine to make more efficient use of heat, which GM says greatly improves performance and fuel economy, while also reducing noise and emissions. Output is expected to be at least 310 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque—more than adequate for a half-ton, full-size pickup—while also delivering 25 percent better fuel economy than comparable gasoline engines. The 4.5-liter Duramax also features high-pressure common-rail fuel injection and is 50-state emissions compliant for oxides of nitrogen due to the use of selective catalytic reduction exhaust aftertreatment.

The engine would have been built at GM's powertrain facility in Tonawanda, New York after 2009. Unlike previous Duramax engines, the 4.5-liter was planned to be designed and built entirely by GM, without assistance from Isuzu.

Unfortunate Casualty or Strategic Ploy?

GM is not canceling the new engine entirely and hopes the “mini” Duramax will be a viable powertrain option in the future. The company will continue to offer the 6.6-liter Duramax V-8 turbo-diesel in its heavy-duty trucks, and its light-duty pickups (and SUVs) are available with two-mode hybrid systems, as well as six-speed automatic transmissions and gasoline engines with cylinder deactivation.

However, given the potential gains in efficiency provided by the diesel, the financial decision to shelve the small Duramax could be seen as motivation for the government to approve loans for GM’s survival and potential revival. And while several factors still hamper diesel proliferation in the U.S., including consumer acceptance and sizable price premiums due to greater development costs, diesel fuel prices in some areas have fallen to regular-unleaded levels, making the efficiency benefits of diesel engines even more relevant in an era of fuel conservation.

That 4.5L Duramax from 2009 is rated higher than the 5.0L Cummins Diesel that is to be in the upcoming Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra (300hp/500 lb-ft tq).

GM could have been the first with the 1/2 Ton diesel. But now they can see how everything plays out with the Ram Ecodiesel.

[King T]

Originally Posted by snizzle

Anyone feel GM waits on industry trends set by *ehem* others *ehem* and shows up late to the party?

They all do it at some point or another. Ford is watching to see how the sales of the Colorado/Canyon are going to do and then decide if they want to bring their global Ranger to the U.S.



Global Ranger Could Be Right Size for U.S.

Ford had a plan when it pulled the Ranger off the North American market last year. It all made sense to kill the Ranger off without offering up a comparable replacement, especially since sales had been sliding for over a decade. Instead of introducing the new T6 Ranger, the same one that 180 other countries around the world gets, Ford bet on Stateside in-market owners to take the step up into the full-size F-150. However, there was a minor issue with that strategy. Those looking to replace their old Ranger aren't taking to Ford's plan. Instead, some are looking to other similar-size offerings from Toyota and Nissan while others are hanging on to what they have.

Even with dwindling sales, the Blue Oval Boys were subjected to an excess of criticism and that's still being heard a year later. Ford staunchly defended its decision to axe the Ranger in the United States and Canada, though, while stating that hopes were high for the global version. This only added insult to injury for those who couldn't get their hands on a new Ranger. Making things worse, Ford tested the Global Ranger's durability, altitude, and towing capabilities in the States. Even still, the Dearborn-based automaker reiterated that sagging sales as well as a similar chassis size and price tag to that of the F-150 led to the decision of excluding the new Ranger from its North American lineup.

It's no secret that the midsize pickup truck segment is shrinking, with only the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier currently available in North America, but reinforcements are rumored to be on the way. The redesigned Chevrolet Colorado has been confirmed to live on in North America and is supposed to resurface later this year. With this announcement, General Motors has a golden opportunity to pick up the top-selling midsize pickup mantle left behind once the North American Ranger exited the market. Ford hasn't said whether the Ranger will return or not but whispers say it will see how GM fares once it releases the Colorado back into the wild. For midsize pickup shoppers, who are notorious for picking a truck that best suits their needs instead of going bigger just because, this is a good sign.

There's no denying that the North American midsize pickup truck segment is currently experiencing a reduction in size. In-market owners don't have much to choose from when it comes time to replace their ride. No matter what Ford thinks, Ranger owners have already shown they aren't willing to make the jump into the F-150. So it appears we have a stalemate for the time being. Ford won't budge on bringing the Global Ranger to North America and midsize pickup owners won't migrate into something bigger. A possible return date for the Ranger could arrive soon after Chevrolet launches the redesigned Colorado though as Ford may want to see how its crosstown rival fares.

[72MachOne99GT]

Yuck.

The market must be there, but I'm not part of it.

[kevint]

I can understand them being late to market such a "revolutionary" concept, but methinks GM et al. have been at this for a while now.

[Cymaro]

Originally Posted by King T

Very true Fen. The bankruptcy pushed back, delayed, and put on hold indefinitely a lot of things.

Another unfortunare casualty of the time was the 4.5L Duramax Diesel

This is from 2009:


The revolutionary 4.5-liter turbo-diesel is put on indefinite hold as a result of GM’s economic woes.
GM Shelves Small Duramax Diesel V-8


That 4.5L Duramax from 2009 is rated higher than the 5.0L Cummins Diesel that is to be in the upcoming Nissan Titan and Toyota Tundra (300hp/500 lb-ft tq).

GM could have been the first with the 1/2 Ton diesel. But now they can see how everything plays out with the Ram Ecodiesel.

That 4.5L Duramax is a good looking engine

[King T]

Originally Posted by 72MachOne99GT

Yuck.

The market must be there, but I'm not part of it.

That's the global Ford Ranger next to the Ram. I'm sure if Ford reinstated the Ranger it would be have design cues for the U.S. market, probablu something like a smaller F-150 (the name F-100 was bouncing around for a while for a new mid-sze Ford truck).

Remember what the Global Colorado looks like compared to the one we're getting

[Firefighter]

They need to throw an Aluminum Body on the next Gen Camaro....

[King T]

Originally Posted by Firefighter

They need to throw an Aluminum Body on the next Gen Camaro....

That would be nice, but I see the Corvette/Stingray possibly getting an Aluminum body before the Camaro would. That would be awesome, to go with the Stingray's Aluminum frame

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by King T

That would be nice, but I see the Corvette/Stingray possibly getting an Aluminum body before the Camaro would. That would be awesome, to go with the Stingray's Aluminum frame

That would likely add significant cost and some mass to the car. Cool yes, but there are reasons why "plastic" continues on the Corvette.

Also, there elements that going to steel or aluminum that are much more difficult or impossible to form.

Remember the Audi A8 has been aluminum for some time and remains a portly automobile.

Don't get me wrong I love aluminum. I led the team that did the C5 aluminum frame. The posted pic reminds me of the same one we did for the C5 Z06. Aluminum is just more subject to commodity pricing than steel or plastic. This is why you see Ford and GM negotiating long term deals on the aluminum.

Also it does make a big deal for repair costs. Keep that in mind.