SEMA 2007: Chevy Suburban HD Z71 Diesel
Click the image above for a gallery of pics.
While it's not easy for us to get caught up in the idea of an off-road ready school schlepper, the Chevrolet Suburban HD Z71 gets our attention because of its small-displacement 4.5-liter diesel. All the mud-plugging gear is easy to overlook when you consider how an oil-burning Suburban might fare in the marketplace. It seems like a reasonable addition to GM's 'ute lineup especially since the concept simply pilfered the parts bin for a new motor and the front end from a Silverado HD. Greater fuel efficiency and the ability to tower over the masses on the way to the grocery store? We smell a hit.
Gallery: Chevy Suburban HD Z71 Diesel
PRESS RELEASE
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HD Z71
The Chevy Suburban HD Z71 is the culmination of a "what if" exercise that melds the popular Suburban 2500HD with the popular Z71 off-road package – a combination not currently offered by the factory – and partners it with a new, fuel-saving smaller-displacement diesel engine. The concept uses many production parts, including the front-end assembly from Chevy's HD trucks, along with some unique custom touches – including rear wheel flares that pick up the styling cues of the front end. Power is generated by a new 4.5L diesel engine that gives this off-road-ready Suburban power, poise and efficiency.
Vehicle highlights:
* Suburban 2500HD Z71
* Silverado HD front-end assembly
* Z71 running boards
* Custom rear wheel flares
* New 4.5L diesel engine
* New rear axle
* Chrome tow hooks
* Custom interior touches
GM Accessories features (production and concept):
* Twenty-inch wheels (concept)
* Chrome hood louvers
* Fuel door (concept)
* Roof rack (concept)
* Trailer hitch close-out
* Two-way remote start
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Thetruck454 12:07PM (10/29/2007)
:drools:
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94 taurus owner 12:48PM (10/29/2007)
WHOAH! THATS NICE! I was wondering when they were going to put a silverado's front end on a suburbans body for quite some time now.I knew the did it in Europe and now here, that's nice.
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danno 12:13PM (10/29/2007)
about 25 years too late gm! get a life!
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cowboy bob 12:20PM (10/29/2007)
Only 25? That's speedy for the General.
alex 12:57PM (10/29/2007)
yep, it has indeed been about 25 years since toyota and honda started putting diesels in their full size trucks here in the states.
wait a minute...
Golferal 1:36PM (10/29/2007)
@ danno
Admittedly, this is long overdue, but I don't see other manufacturer offering a diesel in this type of vehicle except for the Excursion, which was only sold in limited numbers and has since been discontinued.
Let's not be too harsh on The General here...
The Penguin 12:16PM (10/29/2007)
Why don't they leave the body of the car alone, it looked fine, and now it looks terrible. Though a smaller diesel would probably sell quite well.
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davet 6:29PM (10/29/2007)
Hey Penguin, get with the program. This is SEMA, it's supposed to be uglier. As far as the diesel goes, it's about time.
The Penguin 6:39PM (10/29/2007)
Davet, I like most of the way most of the SEMA concepts look so no I don't think that they are all ugly. And yes it is about time GM did this.
DJ 12:23PM (10/29/2007)
Hmmm, merge this engine with the two-stage electric hybrid from the new Tahoe and you could have a fullsize SUV that gets roughly 50MPG on the highway.
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henrykrinkle 12:28PM (10/29/2007)
Not while pushing that front end through the air. Try bolting a 4x8 sheet of plywood to the front of a Pruis or VW diesel and see what the highway MPG is.
HineyWipe 2:01PM (10/29/2007)
Add a periscope and you'll have a submarine (non-nuclear class).
BTW, I got email from GMC last year of the 2008 Diesel Suburban.
The Penguin 6:44PM (10/29/2007)
The absolute most that I could see it with is 40MPG not 50.
Stephen Masters 3:27PM (10/30/2007)
The two-mode hybrid can't handle that much torque. its only designed to work with less than 400 lb ft from what i hear.
PacMan 12:25PM (10/29/2007)
What kind of increased fuel economy? 20-25 Hwy 15 City. No sale. 25City and 30 Hwy now you have a hit. Why not put the smaller diesel in a SMALLER truck. That thing is huge.
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PacMan 12:28PM (10/29/2007)
Now that would be awsome!
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Jared 12:26PM (10/29/2007)
About frickin' time. This is EXACTLY what GM needs. There are many fullsize buyers that will jump at the chance for a 20%+ increase in fuel economy.
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Cornholio 12:30PM (10/29/2007)
Good idea, but try again. This thing is still too big. Most of us don't need the sheer bulk of this thing.
Put a turbodiesel power plant in a vehicle the size of a Ford Explorer/Nissan Pathfinder, and I'll buy one tomorrow. To cinch the deal, offer a manual transmission.
Hello, is anyone out there paying attention??
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Jason 1:06PM (10/29/2007)
Hey, some of us DO need, or at least, have a use for, a vehicle this big. It's also a better fit for their current diesel motors.
I definitely agree that a compact/midsize truck and/or SUV with an oil burner under the hood would be a hot seller, but currently the only company with a small CRD that meets current federal emissions regs is Mercedes... which is why you can buy a diesel Grand Cherokee right now and now a diesel Explorer or Pathfinder.
Jason 1:08PM (10/29/2007)
er, that should have been NOT a diesel Explorer or Pathfinder...