Day before SEMA

[c502cid]

So I snuck away from our booth set up and ran down to see what GM was setting up. As usual, all the crate motors were lined up. They also are making a big emphasis this year on their factory accessory program. Any GMT 900's were loaded with every factory accessory they have to offer, especially pushing the bed rail accessory program. Of course, they change the booth at least once during the show so you have to go back at least twice.

 

No one around to answer questions yet, but I'll get over there tomorrow or probably Wednesday to push them about the possibilities of the 8.1 showing up in the new HD's.

 

Surprise vehicle so far in the tricked out show vehicles in front has been the Buick Lucerne, the "Dub" magazine section of cars and trucks had a few of them! Lots of tricke dout Escalades too.

[Wingnut]

[ZZebes]

We expect pics

[sk]

We expect pics

 

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Tons of SEMA pics here:

SEMA Photos

[c502cid]

We expect pics

 

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Tons of SEMA pics here:

SEMA Photos

 

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Guys, I wish I had the time to take some. Never got to leave my own booth today, not even for lunch. I had a GM accessory designer in our booth today and I asked him about the 8.1 and he said he heard it would be back down the line but he wasn't directly in that loop at GM.

[c502cid]

OK heres the scoop form the GM 900HD guy at SEMA. Bad news for us big block lovers. It's dead. Not coming back as we know it, ever in a light duty truck. Yes for the Class 4 and ups, but no emissions to worry about like the 900's. As much as they tried, and also GM Powertrain tried, to make a business case for it, they just couldnt do it due to the small volumes they had in the 800 series and the costs to certify it for the 900 series. Rough costs to certify each engine is half a million $$$ and they couldn't do it for the 8.1 for business and $$$ reasons alone. Just not enough volume to spread the costs out over time.

 

The only ray of hope he gave me was much like the GM-Ford 6 speed auto transmission partnership, possibly a new big cube gas motor could be developed in a joint effort like that to be used by two or more manufacturers. He didnt specify Ford, just using them as an example. He said they had worked on different ideas like V-10's and V-12's but it was just that, ideas.

 

Anyways, he was brutally honest and blunt with me, I told him I hated the answer, but his honesty was appreciated. Times are tough for all of us in the automotive industry, but the big boys face big $$$ decisions every day, and with development dollars being extra tight these days, a low MPG motor like the big block wasn't going to happen.

[c502cid]

Another note: As much as it pains me to say this, in the Toyota booth they had a bad ass version of the upcoming full size Tundra. Think a 90 Chev SS 454 truck with fat wheels and tires, lowered and all the right body parts. I couldnt believe a "wow" actually came from my GM bleeding lips.