Aero on trucks and SUV's at work for GM
08-13-2008, 01:20 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Aero on trucks and SUV's at work for GM
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
GM offering more fuel-efficient pickup trucks,SUVs
Dee-Ann Durbin / Associated Press
DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. is releasing new, more fuel-efficient versions of its full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles later this fall.
The XFE -- or extra fuel economy -- versions of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks and Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs will get one mile per gallon more in both city and highway fuel economy than non-XFE versions. The boost will give them a total of 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway.
On XFE models, GM improved the aerodynamics by extending the front lower air dam, lowering the suspension and revising the chassis tuning. The automaker also reduced the mass with aluminum parts, including an aluminum spare wheel and 17-inch aluminum wheels, gave the vehicles low rolling resistance tires and powered them with a 5.3-liter, ethanol-capable V-8 engine that has an aluminum cylinder block and heads.
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GM stressed that the vehicles still have the same towing capability.
The XFE pickups and SUVs will be available in the fourth quarter of this year. GM spokesman Brian Goebel wouldn't say how much more they will cost than non-XFE versions.
GM began offering an XFE version of its Chevrolet Cobalt small car earlier this year. The automaker said it sped development of the XFE trucks and SUVs because of consumer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. GM's truck and SUV sales fell 23 percent in the first seven months of this year.
GM also offers hybrid versions of the Tahoe and Yukon and plans to bring out hybrid versions of the Silverado and Sierra in the first half of 2009. The company said last week that about 4 percent of its Tahoe and Yukon sales have been hybrids so far this year
GM offering more fuel-efficient pickup trucks,SUVs
Dee-Ann Durbin / Associated Press
DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. is releasing new, more fuel-efficient versions of its full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles later this fall.
The XFE -- or extra fuel economy -- versions of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks and Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs will get one mile per gallon more in both city and highway fuel economy than non-XFE versions. The boost will give them a total of 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway.
On XFE models, GM improved the aerodynamics by extending the front lower air dam, lowering the suspension and revising the chassis tuning. The automaker also reduced the mass with aluminum parts, including an aluminum spare wheel and 17-inch aluminum wheels, gave the vehicles low rolling resistance tires and powered them with a 5.3-liter, ethanol-capable V-8 engine that has an aluminum cylinder block and heads.
Advertisement
GM stressed that the vehicles still have the same towing capability.
The XFE pickups and SUVs will be available in the fourth quarter of this year. GM spokesman Brian Goebel wouldn't say how much more they will cost than non-XFE versions.
GM began offering an XFE version of its Chevrolet Cobalt small car earlier this year. The automaker said it sped development of the XFE trucks and SUVs because of consumer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. GM's truck and SUV sales fell 23 percent in the first seven months of this year.
GM also offers hybrid versions of the Tahoe and Yukon and plans to bring out hybrid versions of the Silverado and Sierra in the first half of 2009. The company said last week that about 4 percent of its Tahoe and Yukon sales have been hybrids so far this year
08-13-2008, 07:38 PM
#3
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Like racing pound here pound ther few HP for this it all adds up. When they do cars for MPG the sit and play with mouldings a door handles for a long time trying to tweak mileage. If they get 1 MPG it may be 25-30 miles extra per tank.
Last edited by John Shiels; 08-13-2008 at 07:41 PM.
08-13-2008, 11:14 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Well, I give them credit for responding to the market. Do the easy stuff quick. At least it gives them something to talk about in the press and to show that they don't only make SUV's and trucks (even if this is about that).
08-14-2008, 10:53 AM
#6
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. By the way most GM vehicles have had tire pressure monitors so the odds of people driving with the warning and tire pressure low are slim!
08-14-2008, 08:11 PM
#8
Team Owner
Most of that is from lowering the truck.
Its funny because years ago 2wd trucks sat lower than 4wd trucks. Then in an effort to cost save they went to a common ride height which lessened the mileage on the 2wd truck but cut down on complexity.
Now they are back to it.
There was a great article on Ferrari and fuel economy. I do feel that F1 and companies like Ferrari really do put their big dollar prices on the cars to work.
Ferrari says they have among other things a unique foot pedal package that will allow them to cut 3" out of a car and retain every other dimension packaging wise, thats at least 100lbs. They want to increase fuel economy 40 percent in 5 years. That costs money and they have it.
They are looking at active aero that change the aero properties of the car on the freeway to improve mileage, kind of what GM is trying to do but Ferrari would use moving pieces.
There were a ton of innovative idea's that would have real world impact in 5-10 years.
Its funny because years ago 2wd trucks sat lower than 4wd trucks. Then in an effort to cost save they went to a common ride height which lessened the mileage on the 2wd truck but cut down on complexity.
Now they are back to it.
There was a great article on Ferrari and fuel economy. I do feel that F1 and companies like Ferrari really do put their big dollar prices on the cars to work.
Ferrari says they have among other things a unique foot pedal package that will allow them to cut 3" out of a car and retain every other dimension packaging wise, thats at least 100lbs. They want to increase fuel economy 40 percent in 5 years. That costs money and they have it.
They are looking at active aero that change the aero properties of the car on the freeway to improve mileage, kind of what GM is trying to do but Ferrari would use moving pieces.
There were a ton of innovative idea's that would have real world impact in 5-10 years.
Last edited by NoOne; 08-14-2008 at 08:15 PM.
08-14-2008, 08:25 PM
#9
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Forgot which cars but some now drop lower at speed for aero. It might have been the Bugatti but I doubt it is for mileage.
08-14-2008, 09:17 PM
#10
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http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x15...n-at-top-speed
08-15-2008, 05:19 AM
#12
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08-15-2008, 10:55 AM
#13
Le Mans Master
I just read in Automotive Engineering that Ferrari will be using titanium for their suspension springs. It will save a total of 66 pounds. I can't wait for the aftermarket to offer these. Surely Eibach or Hypercoil will eventually sell them. They won't be cheap but titanium production (and demand) are increasing world wide so we should see some benefit from that.
08-15-2008, 12:57 PM
#14
Racer
08-15-2008, 01:46 PM
#15
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how big of a trailer? What year SD?
08-15-2008, 03:09 PM
#16
I just read in Automotive Engineering that Ferrari will be using titanium for their suspension springs. It will save a total of 66 pounds. I can't wait for the aftermarket to offer these. Surely Eibach or Hypercoil will eventually sell them. They won't be cheap but titanium production (and demand) are increasing world wide so we should see some benefit from that.
08-15-2008, 05:13 PM
#17
Melting Slicks
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08-15-2008, 05:39 PM
#19
Former Vendor
Randy
08-15-2008, 06:11 PM
#20
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