2008 Tahoe and Yukon Hybrid SUVs to be rated at 21/22 using 2008 EPA ratings
#1
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http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar.../FREE/70926003
Summary:
332 hp, 367 lb-ft of torque, can drive up to 32mph on electricity alone, rated 21 city, 22 highway using the new 2008 EPA rating standards. That matches the 4-cylinder Camry's city mileage!
Summary:
332 hp, 367 lb-ft of torque, can drive up to 32mph on electricity alone, rated 21 city, 22 highway using the new 2008 EPA rating standards. That matches the 4-cylinder Camry's city mileage!
GM's Two Mode hybrid also features a cylinder deactivation system.
By RICHARD TRUETT AND LESLIE J. ALLEN | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
The hybrid versions of the full-sized 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs will deliver fuel economy gains of 50 percent in the city over the standard, non-hybrid models.
Today (Sept. 27, 2007) at the Texas State Fair, General Motors will announce the EPA fuel economy estimates of 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway for the two-wheel drive versions of the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids.
Those fuel economy ratings are expected to give GM best-in-class fuel economy for large SUVs. The ratings also rival those of many midsize and large cars. For example, the 2WD Tahoe and Yukon match the four-cylinder Toyota Camry's 21 mpg city rating and beat the V-6 Camry's city rating by 2 mpg.
GM expects to sell 10,000 units per year, combined, of the hybrid SUVs. Prices won't be announced until closer to launch, but are expected to start in the low- to mid-$40,000 range.
The Tahoe and Yukon hybrids are the first vehicles to use the innovative Two Mode hybrid transmission GM developed with DaimlerChrysler and BMW. GM will also use the hybrid system in pickup trucks.
The EPA fuel economy figures are lower than some expected, but that's due to the agency's changing its test procedures to more accurately reflect real-world driving conditions.
The official EPA figures for both vehicles are 21 city/22 highway for 2WD models and 20 mpg city/20 mpg highway for 4WD models.
The Yukon and Tahoe hybrids are equipped with GM's cylinder deactivation system, which cuts off four of the V-8's cylinders when the vehicle reaches highway cruising speeds. They have lightweight body panels and wind-cheating bumper covers.
The 2008 Yukon Hybrid goes on sale in early November.
The two-mode hybrid is a full hybrid, meaning the Tahoe and Yukon can drive entirely on electricity. GM's two-mode hybrids can go up to 32 miles per hour using just electricity. At higher speeds, the two-mode system uses either all gasoline or a combination of fuel and electric propulsion.
GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW invested $1 billion in the Two Mode system.
"This is something that really changes the game," said Gary White, GM vice president and vehicle line executive for full-sized vehicle development team.
Tahoe and Yukon hybrids are by far the most fuel-efficient large SUVs on the market. By comparison, the two-wheel drive 2008 Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56 and the two-wheel drive Ford Expedition all get EPA ratings of 12 city and 18 highway. The EPA has not released figures for the 2008 Toyota Sequoia.
The Nissan and Infiniti ratings are for the 5.6-liter V-8 and the Expedition rating is for the 5.4-liter V-8. GM's Two Mode hybrid SUVs have a 6.0-liter V-8 engine.
GM is also planning to use the Two Mode system in its Silverado and Sierra pickups. The Dodge Durango will use the Two Mode system next year, and Mercedes-Benz and BMW will use their versions in the ML 450 and X6 SUVs.
Two Mode Specifications
The 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid tow like SUVs, but are no more thirsty than a midsized car.
Price: Low-to-mid $40,000 range
City/Highway EPA Ratings: 21/22 (two-wheel drive); 20/20 (four-wheel drive)
Engine: 6.0-liter, V-8
Horsepower: 332 hp
Torque: 367 pounds-feet
Transmission: Two Mode hybrid/four speed automatic
Batteries: 300-volt nickel-metal hydride for hybrid system; 12 volt for accessories
Towing capacity: 6,200 pounds (2WD); 6,000 pounds (4WD)
Curb weight: 5,541 (2WD); 5,787 (4WD)
By RICHARD TRUETT AND LESLIE J. ALLEN | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
The hybrid versions of the full-sized 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon SUVs will deliver fuel economy gains of 50 percent in the city over the standard, non-hybrid models.
Today (Sept. 27, 2007) at the Texas State Fair, General Motors will announce the EPA fuel economy estimates of 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway for the two-wheel drive versions of the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids.
Those fuel economy ratings are expected to give GM best-in-class fuel economy for large SUVs. The ratings also rival those of many midsize and large cars. For example, the 2WD Tahoe and Yukon match the four-cylinder Toyota Camry's 21 mpg city rating and beat the V-6 Camry's city rating by 2 mpg.
GM expects to sell 10,000 units per year, combined, of the hybrid SUVs. Prices won't be announced until closer to launch, but are expected to start in the low- to mid-$40,000 range.
The Tahoe and Yukon hybrids are the first vehicles to use the innovative Two Mode hybrid transmission GM developed with DaimlerChrysler and BMW. GM will also use the hybrid system in pickup trucks.
The EPA fuel economy figures are lower than some expected, but that's due to the agency's changing its test procedures to more accurately reflect real-world driving conditions.
The official EPA figures for both vehicles are 21 city/22 highway for 2WD models and 20 mpg city/20 mpg highway for 4WD models.
The Yukon and Tahoe hybrids are equipped with GM's cylinder deactivation system, which cuts off four of the V-8's cylinders when the vehicle reaches highway cruising speeds. They have lightweight body panels and wind-cheating bumper covers.
The 2008 Yukon Hybrid goes on sale in early November.
The two-mode hybrid is a full hybrid, meaning the Tahoe and Yukon can drive entirely on electricity. GM's two-mode hybrids can go up to 32 miles per hour using just electricity. At higher speeds, the two-mode system uses either all gasoline or a combination of fuel and electric propulsion.
GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW invested $1 billion in the Two Mode system.
"This is something that really changes the game," said Gary White, GM vice president and vehicle line executive for full-sized vehicle development team.
Tahoe and Yukon hybrids are by far the most fuel-efficient large SUVs on the market. By comparison, the two-wheel drive 2008 Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX56 and the two-wheel drive Ford Expedition all get EPA ratings of 12 city and 18 highway. The EPA has not released figures for the 2008 Toyota Sequoia.
The Nissan and Infiniti ratings are for the 5.6-liter V-8 and the Expedition rating is for the 5.4-liter V-8. GM's Two Mode hybrid SUVs have a 6.0-liter V-8 engine.
GM is also planning to use the Two Mode system in its Silverado and Sierra pickups. The Dodge Durango will use the Two Mode system next year, and Mercedes-Benz and BMW will use their versions in the ML 450 and X6 SUVs.
Two Mode Specifications
The 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid tow like SUVs, but are no more thirsty than a midsized car.
Price: Low-to-mid $40,000 range
City/Highway EPA Ratings: 21/22 (two-wheel drive); 20/20 (four-wheel drive)
Engine: 6.0-liter, V-8
Horsepower: 332 hp
Torque: 367 pounds-feet
Transmission: Two Mode hybrid/four speed automatic
Batteries: 300-volt nickel-metal hydride for hybrid system; 12 volt for accessories
Towing capacity: 6,200 pounds (2WD); 6,000 pounds (4WD)
Curb weight: 5,541 (2WD); 5,787 (4WD)
#4
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http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=...2-80b045f7c663
I dont think this guy knows what he's talking about at all.
1. How is GM gonna have more hybrids on the road than Lexus and Toyota within a year? Yeah right.
2. 0-30 only electric power? Not according to what I read on their website. If you accelerate slowly enough I suppose.
3. 322 hp delievered from 2 electric motors without the help of the gasoline engine? Are you joking? That would depelete the batteries so fast.
I dont think this guy knows what he's talking about at all.
1. How is GM gonna have more hybrids on the road than Lexus and Toyota within a year? Yeah right.
2. 0-30 only electric power? Not according to what I read on their website. If you accelerate slowly enough I suppose.
3. 322 hp delievered from 2 electric motors without the help of the gasoline engine? Are you joking? That would depelete the batteries so fast.
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#9
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http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=...2-80b045f7c663
I dont think this guy knows what he's talking about at all.
I dont think this guy knows what he's talking about at all.
1. How is GM gonna have more hybrids on the road than Lexus and Toyota within a year? Yeah right.
2. 0-30 only electric power? Not according to what I read on their website. If you accelerate slowly enough I suppose.
3. 322 hp delievered from 2 electric motors without the help of the gasoline engine? Are you joking? That would depelete the batteries so fast.
GM's two-mode system is very solid and has definitely been well proven in much much larger and much more powerful commercial vehicles already. A 322hp 5500 pound Tahoe is chicken scratch compared to what they have been using the 2-mode system in.
The only reason that they haven't introduced it sooner is its cost. It costs GM about 10 grand per Tahoe/Yukon for that 2-mode drivetrain. So yes, much like Toyota did with the Prius... they will be sold at a loss or at least far less of a profit than the regular Tahoes, until they're able to ramp up production and spread out some of the costs with economies of scale.
#10
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Because both of those vehicles are substantially smaller and lighter hybrids. The very fact that the Tahoe can match the mileage of a 4-cylinder non-hybrid Camry, a car which the average member of society today would probably tell you "gets good gas mileage" (just by assumption/default because most people think 4-cylinder Japanese cars are automatically the most efficient available)... it's just impressive that a mammoth sized Tahoe can match that figure.
#12
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Because both of those vehicles are substantially smaller and lighter hybrids. The very fact that the Tahoe can match the mileage of a 4-cylinder non-hybrid Camry, a car which the average member of society today would probably tell you "gets good gas mileage" (just by assumption/default because most people think 4-cylinder Japanese cars are automatically the most efficient available)... it's just impressive that a mammoth sized Tahoe can match that figure.
:-)
#14
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Of course, that doesnt mean it will be bad... it might be the most awesomesty thingy that happened ever.
#15
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The 2008 2WD HH, according to Toyota, gets 26 mpg combined. The GM SUV hybrids get 21 mpg combined.
That means that the 2WD HH gets 24% better mpg.
The 2008 2WD HH is 4300 pounds. That means that the 2WD HH is 22% lighter than the GM SUV hybrids.
Also, let's not forget that the GM SUV hybrids make significantly more power than the HH.