Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra to Get V6 Turbo Engines to Rival Ford F-150 EcoBoost

Colum Wood
by Colum Wood
2011 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Extended Cab. X11CT_SL014 (06/22/2010) (United States)

Ford was seen as taking a big gamble when it reintroduced V6 engines into its full-size pickup trucks. But the gamble has paid off and now the Blue Oval’s domestic rivals will look to do the same.

With plans for the Ram 1500 to get Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6 engine, look for GM’s Silverado and Sierra twins to offer a V6 option as well.

While also looking to develop the 5.3-liter V8 used in the current rucks, GM is also said to be planning a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine that could be offered in everything from Cadillac models to trucks, as part of the automaker’s plan to cut the number of engines and platforms in half.

Currently, the GM 5.3-liter V8 comes close to the fuel economy of the Ford EcoBoost engine, although power is down somewhat with the 5.3L making 315 hp and 335 pounds-feet of torque, compared to 365-hp and 420 lb-ft in the Ford. The smaller-displacement GM V6 turbo might have trouble laying own the same numbers as the Ford engine, but should handily beat it in fuel economy.

Look for GM’s new Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks to arrive with this new engine, plus a lower curb weight and the possible use of an 8-speed automatic transmission in 2013.

[Source: AutoNews via Cnet]

Colum Wood
Colum Wood

With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.

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  • Cyberpine Cyberpine on Nov 02, 2011

    what we need is about 280hp, 25mpg city, 5000lb towing in a midsized length truck. They can acheive this a fold down midgate and a short bed that extend back and in. A nice wide, low, short truck with seating for 6! And while dreaming, they should finally design a truck that can easily accomodate 325/60/18 tires without a lift, level or cutting.

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