Return of the Diesel Suburban!

[peterbilt]

Diesel Power Magazine It's been almost 10 years since General Motors stopped selling the Chevy/GMC Suburban with an optional diesel engine. Since the demise of the 6.5L Subs, the only fullsize SUV you could buy with an oil-burner was the Ford Excursion, and that disappeared after 2005. that's all set to change thanks to the '07 SEMA introduction of the Chevy Suburban hD Z71 concept with a fuel-sipping 4.5L Duramax diesel V-8 under the hood.
The truck you see here is the result of a "what if" exercise where designers combined the Suburban 2500hD with the popular Z71 off-road package (a combo that's not currently offered). Production parts include the front-end assembly from a 3/4-ton Silverado, a 9 1/2-inch 14-bolt rear axle, Z71 running boards, and a stylized, polished version of the familiar bazooka tailpipe found on LMM trucks. the design experiment also included concept pieces such as 20-inch chrome wheels, a billet fuel door, chrome hood louvers, and rear fender flares to match the look of the new front clip.The 4.5L Duramax V-8 under the hood will be rated at more than 300 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque, which should be enough to lug a hefty trailer while achieving 20 mpg or better. Although this Suburban hD Z71 is only an experimental concept, it looks like GM is serious about selling it here in the U.S. because it appeared to be equipped with a ureaspraying selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, which means it could meet the new emissions rules and be sold as early as 2009. We can't wait!

Chevy Suburban HD Z71 Engine: 4.5L Duramax Displacement: 4.5L (275 ci) Configuration: V-8 Horsepower: 310 Torque: 520 lb-ft Head Material: Cast aluminum Block Material: Compacted graphite iron Valvetrain: DOhC 32-valve Fuel System: high-pressure common-rail;cylinder pressure sensors Turbo: Variable geometry Intercooler: Air-to-air; integrated cam cover/intake manifold Potential Platforms: Chevy Suburban,and GMC Yukon xL, ****** h2, Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra,Chevy tahoe/GMC Yukon/Cadillac Escalade

[stelmadl]

looks good and about time. looks like the concept has 4-wheel steering as well. good to see it's still around or an idea that hasn't died.

[peterbilt]

blah... to chevy, never liked them. idk about the aws, but maybe, who knows. they did doit on the 02 sierra denalis, but it was taken out becuz of poor safety i do believe.

[stelmadl]

Four wheel steering was an option for a few years. The option was available for suburbans and 1/2 ton trucks. Safety? It was the price.

[dawright_1988]

Originally Posted by peterbilt

blah... to chevy, never liked them. idk about the aws, but maybe, who knows. they did doit on the 02 sierra denalis, but it was taken out becuz of poor safety i do believe.

Yeah... there's nothing unsafe about it. It only engages when you are going slow. Like less than 10 mph or something. It doesn't engage when you're truckin' down the freeway.

[stelmadl]

actually, the rear wheels follow the front when turning at speeds below 45ish, and turn with the front wheels when above 45ish.....but, totally safe....and can be turned off if you like, too.

[Toyotaduallycom]

Looking for the title to my '99 Burb, when will the new ones hit the dealers? I love my "burb"...rides like a couch.
Thanks for the tip.

[peterbilt]

Originally Posted by stelmadl

actually, the rear wheels follow the front when turning at speeds below 45ish, and turn with the front wheels when above 45ish.....but, totally safe....and can be turned off if you like, too.

still unsafe. quad steer at 45? i dont think so.

Originally Posted by Toyotaduallycom

Looking for the title to my '99 Burb, when will the new ones hit the dealers? I love my "burb"...rides like a couch.
Thanks for the tip.

'

i heard a rumor of june '09