GM Says Duramax Canyon and Colorado Almost Ready

[Gorehamj]

John Goreham
Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com
11/02/2015

It has felt a little weird to have reported that the new 2016 Colorado and Canyon Duramax vehicles would be on sale in October. Because they weren't. GM told us directly they would be back in September, but in fairness to GM, nobody knew how serious the VW dirty diesel cheating scandal would become at that time. We communicated directly with our Chevy Trucks GM contact again today and we were told "The Colorado is currently undergoing the EPA’s final certification process, and we hope to hear something from them soon. Once we have that finalized certification, we will begin shipping trucks to dealers."

 

In case our prior report about the GM diesels not being listed yet on www.fueleconomy.gov was unclear, until the trucks show up there no private sales are going to take place. Vehicles in the U.S. must be approved by the EPA prior to sale and the fuel economy numbers must appear on the Monroney window sticker. According to GM, that day grows near.

[newdude]

EPA must have really changed their test procedures...

 

I really want to take one for a spin. Have yet to drive a gas one as it is.

[mestupmonkydude]

I don't think the EPA can change their test procedures at the drop of a hat. Mainly because manufactures need time to make sure their vehicles will meet the standard on the first try, otherwise their just wasting time. But I really don't know much about how that all works, however I think they can only make new rules every 6-8 years. What I think the EPA is doing is covering their damn ass. I say this because either VW got very lucky they didn't get caught until they did or someone decided to expose what has been going on for a long time with many manufactures. What that is pockets have been lined with gobbles of cash, but that's just my opinion.

 

As far as the release goes its going to happen really soon, This month or the next. I mean this engine has been around for a long time in many other markets. Just not ours because the gas engines are so much easier to sell to the mass public than a diesel. Plus GM is letting testers and reviewers drive the thing. So GM knows it's happening, its really just a matter of the EPA making sure they've got all their bases covered.

 

As far as the truck goes for its self, its solid. I drove one last fall when they first came out I really liked it. So much so I almost walked inside and bought it. But I really wanted the diesel, also its a midsize and I've grown up on full size trucks. It also felt a little cramped inside, however by no means uncomfortable. In case your interested the Duramax package for these trucks will cost $3,905.

[Gorehamj]

mestupmonkeydude's right. The Canyon Duramax we drove at a recent event was $45K. $3,905 buys a lot of regular unleaded. It will be interesting to see those fuel economy numbers when they are ready.

[SnakeEyeSS]

I don't think the EPA can change their test procedures at the drop of a hat. Mainly because manufactures need time to make sure their vehicles will meet the standard on the first try, otherwise their just wasting time. But I really don't know much about how that all works, however I think they can only make new rules every 6-8 years. What I think the EPA is doing is covering their damn ass. I say this because either VW got very lucky they didn't get caught until they did or someone decided to expose what has been going on for a long time with many manufactures. What that is pockets have been lined with gobbles of cash, but that's just my opinion.

 

As far as the release goes its going to happen really soon, This month or the next. I mean this engine has been around for a long time in many other markets. Just not ours because the gas engines are so much easier to sell to the mass public than a diesel. Plus GM is letting testers and reviewers drive the thing. So GM knows it's happening, its really just a matter of the EPA making sure they've got all their bases covered.

 

As far as the truck goes for its self, its solid. I drove one last fall when they first came out I really liked it. So much so I almost walked inside and bought it. But I really wanted the diesel, also its a midsize and I've grown up on full size trucks. It also felt a little cramped inside, however by no means uncomfortable. In case your interested the Duramax package for these trucks will cost $3,905.

 

It's not that they changed their current percedures, it's that they added new one to confirm results and sniff out cheat software. The standards stayed the same.

[Guest Don]

The diesel also depreciates at a slower rate so one doesn't need to cover all $3905 in gas to break even. Everyone tries to factor ROI based on gas but forgets about depreciation.

[Cowpie]

But then, we have to add in DEF and maintenance issues that goes over what it would cost for the gasser version. Was reading a recent article in a commercial trucking rag that was doing cost benefit analysis stuff on gong with diesel or gas in pickups. Even with supposed resale values, fuel economy differences, whatever... there was no appreciable benefit to buy the diesel version over the gas version. The cost benefit ratio just wasn't there like it had been prior to the EPA emissions game. Diesel has its place, for sure, in certain applications, but not as many as some would suppose. Probably why many commercial buyers have moved from diesel to gas versions of pickups.

 

On a side note, as I was watching the 2.8L Dmax debut, I was developing a idea that this motor was based on a VM Motori 2.8L design. So many similarities that led me to no other conclusion. Some speculated it was a GM / Izusu thing like the bigger Dmax brother. Not so. The chief designer for the 2.8L Dmax started on the project while he was at VM Motori and GM still had a significant share of that company. He migrated to GM and is still at GM and still chief designer of the 2.8L Dmax.....

 

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/1511-interview-nicola-menarini-global-program-manager-and-chief-engineer-gm-duramax-2-8l/