Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6 nets 18 mpg city, 24 highway

Wed, 19 Jun 2013

There is no doubting that fuel economy has become an important factor in the highly competitive fullsize truck market, with the Ford F-150 EcoBoost V6 and Pentastar V6-powered Ram 1500 setting quite a precedent in recent years. Now it's General Motors' turn. The General has just announced that the new base V6 used in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 models will return an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway in two-wheel drive trim, regardless of cab configuration.

While these figures don't go so far as to earn GM any "best-in-class" fuel economy claims (thanks to the 25-mpg Ram 1500 HFE), this new 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 does edge the F-150 and Toyota Tundra while boasting best-in-class numbers for torque, payload and towing capacity among six-cylinder rivals. This all-new engine produces 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque, and it gives the 2014 Silverado and Sierra the highest towing rating among standard V6 models with a 7,200-pound towing capacity – besting the Ram by 700 pounds, the base F-150 by 1,100 pounds and coming within 200 pounds of the V8-powered Nissan Titan. Scroll down for the official press releases from Chevrolet and GMC.

Silverado V6: Best-in-Class Capability, 24 mpg Highway

-Best torque, payload and towing of any standard V-6
-Unsurpassed city fuel economy for full-size pickups

DETROIT – The 2014 Silverado with the all-new 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 – the most capable standard V-6 in any full-size pickup truck – will also be a segment leader in fuel economy, helping save customers money when they buy and when they drive.

EcoTec3 engine technology enables 2WD Silverados to match Ram HFE's 18 mpg city, while 4x4 Silverados achieve 17 mpg city, the best of any full-size pickup. EPA highway estimates are highly competitive: 22 mpg for 4x4 versions, and 24 mpg for 2WD models.

Reflecting Silverado's straightforward approach to performance and fuel economy, these EPA estimates are achieved without expensive add-ons and apply to all three cab configurations, regular cab, double cab, and crew cab.

Silverados equipped with the 4.3L V-6 also will be the most-capable trucks with standard V-6 engines, with the highest available payload rating of 2,108 pounds and the highest available towing rating of 7,200 pounds.

"Budget-conscious customers often buy V-6 pickups to do real work, and the 2014 Silverado with the 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 will combine unmatched capability and excellent fuel economy with surprising levels of refinement," said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer.

"Our V-6 has torque where you need it to get the job done, with 230 lb-ft of torque available at 1,200 rpm, and more torque available from 2,400 to 5,300 rpm than competitive V-6s make at their peak."

Truck customers now returning to the showroom will find that Silverado's standard V-6 now offers better performance than many V-8 powered pickups from just a few years ago, with far superior fuel economy.

"The average pickup on the road is more than 11 years old," said Luke. "Customers driving these trucks with V-8 engines will be amazed at the power and refinement of Silverado's new EcoTec3 V-6, which has fuel economy some 30 percent better than older V-8s with comparable performance."

The new V-6 joins the mainstream 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8, with EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of up to 23 mpg, the best estimates of any V-8 pickup, and better than estimates for the Ford EcoBoost turbo V-6 (22 mpg EPA highway for 2wd models).

Seamlessly switches to four-cylinder operation

Silverado's combination of capability and efficiency results in part from its EcoTec3 engines, which provide the proven power of a large-displacement truck engine when needed, then switch seamlessly to four-cylinder operation under lighter loads.

"In creating the 2014 Silverado 1500, we looked at a wide variety of powertrain configurations, and concluded that purpose-built truck engines could best provide the payload and towing capability that truck customers require with the long-term dependability they expect," said Luke.

By creating a new trio of EcoTec3 engines for the 2014 Silverado, Chevrolet was able to make the most of the size and performance of each entry:

-The 4.3L V-6 is a rugged and refined standard engine with best-in-class torque, payload and towing.
-The 5.3L V-8, expected to power three out of four Silverados, gives mainstream customers 355 horsepower, with fuel economy better than any V-8 competitor or Ford's EcoBoost turbo V-6.
-A new 6.2L V-8, available this fall, will be the most powerful engine offered on any light-duty pickup, with an estimated 420 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, and a maximum available towing rating of 12,000 pounds.

All three EcoTec3 engines feature direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing, a combination not found in competitive trucks. The engines also use a compact overhead valve design and weight-saving components such as aluminum blocks and cylinder heads to reduce the mass of the engines for additional energy savings.

Additional Details and Data

Silverado 1500 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6
-285 hp (212kW) @ 5,300rpm
-305 lb-ft of torque (413 Nm)@ 3900 rpm
-Maximum available towing rating: 7,200 pounds
-Maximum available payload rating: 2,108 pounds

Horsepower and torque ratings are SAE certified using 87 octane regular gasoline.

Peak torque and horsepower, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

Peak torque
(lb-ft) @ rpm Peak horsepower @ rpm
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 305 @ 3900 285 @ 5300
Ford 3.7L V-6 278 @ 4000 302 @ 6500
Ram 3.6L V-6 269 @ 4175 305 @ 6400
Source: Published manufacturer's information

EPA fuel economy estimates, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

City Highway Combined

2WD models
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 18 24 20
Ford F-150 3.7L V-6 17 23 19
Ram 3.6L V-6* HFE (regular cab only) 18 25 21
Ram 3.6L V-6* 17 25 20
Toyota Tundra 4.0L V-6 16 20 18

4x4 models
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 17 22 19
Ford F-150 3.7L V-6 16 21 18
Ram 3.6L V-6* 16 23 19
Source: Model Year 2013 EPA Fuel Economy Guide
* Optional engine for 2013 model year

Maximum available payload and towing ratings, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

Max available payload rating (lb.) Max available towing rating (lb.)
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 2,108 7,200
Ford 3.7L V-6 1,930 6,100
Ram 3.6L V-6 1,930 6,500
Toyota 4.0L V-6 1,580 4,900

Source: Published manufacturer's information. For Silverado, maximum payload is for 2wd regular cab model; maximum towing is for regular cab 4x4 model.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

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2014 GMC Sierra V-6 Delivers 24 mpg Highway
Efficient engine is also most capable standard V-6 in class

DETROIT – The same technology that makes the all-new 2014 Sierra's 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 the most capable standard V-6 in any full-size truck also makes it a segment leader in fuel economy, allowing owners to go farther on a single fill-up.

EcoTec3 engine technology enables 2WD 4.3L V-6 Sierra models to match Ram HFE's 18 mpg city, while 4x4 models achieve 17 mpg city, the best of any full-size pickup. EPA highway estimates are highly competitive: 22 mpg for 4x4 versions, and 24 mpg for 2WD models.

Sierras equipped with the 4.3L V-6 also will be the most capable trucks with standard V-6 engines, with highest available payload rating of 2,108 pounds and the highest-available towing rating of 7,200 pounds.

"The 2014 Sierra offers capability, efficiency and refinement regardless of trim level or engine choice," said Tony DiSalle, vice president of GMC Marketing. "All of the technology that makes this our most efficient half-ton pickup ever comes standard for every customer."

EcoTec3 technology is comprised of direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing, a combination not found in competitive pickups. The engines also use a compact overhead valve design and weight-saving components such as aluminum blocks and cylinder heads to reduce the mass of the engines for additional energy savings.

"Our V-6 has torque where you need it to get the job done," said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer. "With 230 lb-ft of torque available at 1,200 rpm, and more torque available from 2,400 to 5,300 rpm than competitive V-6s make at their peak.

"The average pickup on the road is more than 11 years old," said Luke. "Customers driving these trucks with V-8 engines will be amazed at the power and refinement of Sierra's new EcoTec3 V-6, which has fuel economy some 30 percent better than older V-8s with comparable performance."

The new V-6 joins Sierra's 5.3L EcoTec3 V-8, with EPA estimated highway fuel economy of up to 23 mpg, the best estimates of any V-8 pickup, and better than the 22 estimated highway mpg for the Ford EcoBoost turbo V-6.

A new 6.2L EcoTec3 V-8, available this fall, will be the most powerful engine offered on any light-duty pickup, with an estimated 420 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, and a maximum available towing rating of 12,000 pounds.

Additional Details and Data

Sierra 1500 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6
-285 hp (212kW) @ 5,300rpm
-305 lb-ft of torque (413 Nm)@ 3900 rpm
-Maximum available towing rating: 7,200 pounds
-Maximum available payload rating: 2,108 pounds

Horsepower and torque ratings are SAE certified using 87 octane regular gasoline.

Peak torque and horsepower, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

Peak torque
(lb-ft) @ rpm Peak horsepower @ rpm
GMC Sierra 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 305 @ 3900 285 @ 5300
Ford 3.7L V-6 278 @ 4000 302 @ 6500
Ram 3.6L V-6 269 @ 4175 305 @ 6400
Source: Published manufacturer's information

EPA fuel economy estimates, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

City Highway Combined
2WD models
GMC Sierra 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 18 24 20
Ford F-150 3.7L V-6 17 23 19
Ram 3.6L V-6* HFE (regular cab only) 18 25 21
Ram 3.6L V-6* 17 25 20
Toyota Tundra 4.0L V-6 16 20 18
4x4 models
GMC Sierra 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 17 22 19
Ford F-150 3.7L V-6 16 21 18
Ram 3.6L V-6* 16 23 19
Source: Model Year 2013 EPA Fuel Economy Guide
* Optional engine for 2013 model year

Maximum available payload and towing ratings, light-duty pickups with non-turbo V-6 engines

Max available payload rating (lb.) Max available towing rating (lb.)
Chevrolet Silverado 4.3L EcoTec3 V-6 2,108 7,200
Ford 3.7L V-6 1,930 6,100
Ram 3.6L V-6 1,930 6,500
Toyota 4.0L V-6 1,580 4,900
Source: Published manufacturer's information. For Sierra, maximum payload is for 2wd regular cab model; maximum towing is for regular cab 4x4 model.

GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902, and is one of the industry's healthiest brands. Innovation and engineering excellence is built into all GMC vehicles and the brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient trucks and crossovers, including the Terrain small SUV and Acadia crossover. The 2014 Sierra half-ton pickup boasts all-new powertrains and design, and the Sierra Heavy Duty pickups are the most capable and powerful trucks ever built by GMC. Every retail GMC model, including Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs, is now available in Denali luxury trim. Details on all GMC models are available at http://www.gmc.com/, on Twitter at @thisisgmc or at http://www.facebook.com/gmc.

By Jeffrey N. Ross