GM Plans First Light Duty V-8 Clean Diesel for North America        
     High-efficiency V-8 scheduled for pickup trucks under 8,600 pounds  
     Gross Vehicle Weight and HUMMER H2                                  
     Low emissions, high performance and excellent fuel economy          
     Expected to deliver class-leading torque, power and refinement      
     Manufactured at the GM Powertrain Tonawanda engine plant            


TONAWANDA, N.Y. – General Motors Corp. will introduce a new,              
state-of-the-art 4.5L V-8 Duramax turbo-diesel that improves engine fuel  
efficiency by 25 percent, reduces CO 2 emissions by 13 percent and cuts    
particulates and NO x emissions by at least 90 percent for North American  
light duty trucks and the HUMMER H2 built after 2009.                      
                                                                         
                                                                         
The premium V-8 diesel is expected to deliver class-leading torque, power  
and refinement while maintaining a significant fuel efficiency advantage  
over comparable-output gasoline engines.                                  
                                                                         
                                                                         
The new dual-overhead cam, four-valve V-8 diesel engine will fit within    
the same space of a small-block V-8 gasoline engine. This compact size is  
made possible by using integral cylinder head exhaust manifolds, integral  
cam cover intake manifolds and a narrow block.                            
                                                                         
                                                                         
“This new GM light duty diesel is expected to become a favorite among      
customers who require excellent towing ability and fuel efficiency,” said  
Tom Stephens, group vice president, GM Global Powertrain and Quality. “It  
will meet the stringent 2010 emissions standards, and it will be compliant
in all 50 states, making it one of the cleanest diesel vehicles ever      
produced.”                                                                
                                                                         
                                                                         
Environmental benefits of the new engine include a 13-percent reduction in
CO 2 versus gasoline engines, and at least a 90-percent reduction in      
particulates and NO x compared to diesel vehicles today. This will be GM’s
first engine to use a selective catalytic reduction NO x aftertreatment    
system with a diesel particulate filter to help achieve the Tier 2 Bin 5  
and LEV 2 emissions standards.                                            
                                                                         
                                                                         
Technical highlights of the engine include aluminum cylinder heads with    
integrated manifolding; a variable-vane turbocharger with intercooling; a  
Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) block for a stronger and lighter engine base
(compared to lower-strength aluminum or heavier grey cast iron); and      
fracture-split main bearing caps and connecting rods for a precise fit. An
electronically controlled, ultra-high-pressure, common-rail fuel system is
used, which has the ability to inject fuel five times per combustion event
to control noise and emissions.                                            
                                                                         
                                                                         
“This new V-8 is not only a clean diesel meeting the toughest emissions    
requirements in North America, it also delivers an effortless performance  
feel because of its high torque across the speed range,” said Charlie      
Freese, executive director of GM Powertrain Diesel Engineering. “It is    
also significantly quieter than other diesels on the road today, with      
noise and vibration performance approaching gasoline V-8 levels.”          
                                                                         
                                                                         
Freese said the new V-8’s compact size enables it to fit in the envelope  
of a gasoline small-block engine, which provides GM the flexibility to    
introduce this engine in a wide variety of vehicle applications should    
there be future market demand.                                            
                                                                         
                                                                         
The premium V-8 diesel engine is expected to deliver class-leading        
refinement, horsepower and torque and fulfill multiple vehicle            
applications with ratings in excess of 310 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of    
torque.                                                                    
                                                                         
                                                                         
GM (Opel, Saab , Vauxhall and GMDAT ) currently offers 17 diesel engine    
variants in 45 vehicle lines around the world. GM sells more than one      
million diesel engines annually, with products that offer a range of      
choices from the 1.3L four-cylinder diesel engine sold in the Opel Agila  
and Corsa, up to the 6.6L V-8 Duramax diesel sold in full-size vans, heavy
duty pickups and medium duty trucks in the U.S.                            
                                                                         
                                                                         
GM first introduced the Duramax diesel 6.6L V-8 in the U.S. in the 2001    
model year and since then, customer enthusiasm for this heavy duty diesel  
has been outstanding. In fact, GM’s heavy duty pickup truck market share  
has jumped nearly tenfold in the six years that Duramax engines have been  
offered.    


Awesome---300+hp and 520lb/ft of Torque.

Toyota---

                                   

THAT's gonna get some attention.  I wonder what the average fuel economy will be in a 1/2 ton type truck?


CMOS

Probably 20+, I get 17+ out of my 3/4 ton Duramax
more importantly, towing will still probably get close to 20 (instead of 10 out of the gasser)
they are going to sell tons
Hmmm, where's toyota?

That sounds very good

There have been whispers that Ford will do something similar in 2009-2010 also.  They had better or face losing even more market share.

Anyone wanna bet that Toyota will beat the Big 3 with their diesel introduction? . . .


CMOS

I bet that CGI block aint cheap.

Quoted: There have been whispers that Ford will do something similar in 2009-2010 also.  They had better or face losing even more market share. Anyone wanna bet that Toyota will beat the Big 3 with their diesel introduction? . . . CMOS

I don't know, I think Ford is a lot closer than GM, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ford offer it first, then Toyota, then GM.

Dodge will be in the market with a smaller diesel made by Cummins for the 1/2 ton trucks and Durango in the next year.  Toyota is supposed to have one in the works as well.

Quoted: I bet that CGI block aint cheap. Quoted: There have been whispers that Ford will do something similar in 2009-2010 also.  They had better or face losing even more market share. Anyone wanna bet that Toyota will beat the Big 3 with their diesel introduction? . . . CMOS I don't know, I think Ford is a lot closer than GM, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ford offer it first, then Toyota, then GM.

Ford is teetering near bankruptcy and has had little to invest in a large program all-new engine design for quite awhile. GM is in rough shape financially, but they are not in the desperate straits that Ford finds itself in.

Ford has also had disagreements and conflict with Navistar that have led to Navistar having a brief work stoppage on the Powerstroke. Those things may not directly impact and ongoing program but indirectly it will slow them if Navistar is involved with the development of any Ford diesel engine. GM has had mules with this engine being driven around for over a year now and it is going to be 09 production...That means late 08 or very early 09 you will start to see them.

I would look for Dodge and/or Toyota and perhaps Nissan to roll with 1500 diesels around the same time GM does.

I will buy a diesel 1/2 ton. No doubt about it.


Dodge needs to yank the Benz Diesel out of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and stick it in a Ram. They could beat everyone to the punch.

At least someone is listening in detroit. The real question is how much of a premium will it command over a gas engine.

GM please give me this engine in one of those modern caprice rwd sedans that you build for the middle east, pretty please????

-JTP

I've heard these rumors for a year now and I am glad that they look serious.  I would LOVE a small cummins in a 1500!!!