GM Light-Duty pickups to get diesel treatment

According to a recent article from Ward’s Auto, GM plans to offer a diesel engine in its light-duty pickups for the first time since the 1980s. Gary White, GM vehicle line executive-full-size trucks, says that GM plans to unveil the specifics of its new diesel engine within the next six months. White made this announcement during a recent press event unveiling the redesigned 2007 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, which will hit dealership lots during the fourth quarter of this year. While GM uses a 6.6L Duramax turbodiesel engine in its heavy-duty pickups, White did not elaborate on the specifics of its upcoming light-duty diesel engine.

General Motors is not the only automaker planning to bring diesel engines to light-duty trucks. Cummins recently announced it has agreed to supply a global automaker with a family of light-duty diesel engines for use in U.S.-market pickups and SUVs by the end of the decade. The engines were developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, which outlines the powerplants as a 190-hp, 4.2L V6 and a 260-hp, 5.6L V8. Both engines have single overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder, variable geometry turbochargers and piezo-electric fuel injectors. John Moulton, powertrain division president at Robert Bosch Corp., commented that he expects to see light-duty pickup trucks for sale by 2009 or 2010 as automakers now are looking to “move down from heavy-duty pickups to the next level.”

Pickup truck sales have declined as gasoline prices remain above $3 a gallon. Overall pickup sales dropped 11% during the first half of 2006 compared to the same period of time last year. Diesel engines offer greater fuel economy while producing greater power, which cold help bolster pickup truck sales in the future. “Consumers still want fullsize pickups,” says Global Insight analyst John Wolkonowicz. “They just don’t like that fill-up at $3 a gallon. This will allow (GM) to continue to sell large numbers of fullsize pickups if they’re geared up to produce large numbers of [diesel] engines.”