Gm's Big Suvs May Get Lighter

[Darkanion]

GM's big SUVs may get lighter - Tahoe, Yukon will 'fade away in their present form'

 

By Jamie LaReau

Automotive News

 

DETROIT -- General Motors may shift its two big SUVs, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, to a lighter, more fuel-efficient platform, a company source said.

 

The Tahoe and Yukon -- traditionally two of GM's most profitable vehicles -- eventually will "fade away in their present form," the source said. The future of other big SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade was unclear. It is also possible that the two vehicles will be produced in limited numbers using alternative powertrains to offset the impact of high gasoline prices, dealers say.

 

GM has low-volume Two Mode hybrid variants of the Tahoe and Yukon SUVs that it launched this year. Asked whether GM would increase production of the Two Mode, GM COO Fritz Henderson did not outline the company's plans. "We have a lot of options," Henderson told analysts and reporters during a conference call on June 3. "We will have more hybrids in those technologies and other applications, but at this point we have nothing to announce."

 

Timing for changes to the Yukon and Tahoe is uncertain. GM launched the current generation of the full-sized SUVs in 2006. Dealers say large families likely will always demand such vehicles. Dealers foresee automakers developing more fuel-efficient powertrains within the next decade. "They're dictated by demand," says Chris Hurd, owner of Hurd Auto Mall in suburban Providence, R.I. "There's definitely a market for (the big SUVs). If gas goes from $3 to $4, it's not enough to keep people from driving them."

[Nick The Great]

Interesting. I'd think there would always be a demand for these vehicles. I could see people buying the Lambda platform vehicles (or whatever the future platform is) because not everyone needs something with that towing capacity.

[Darkanion]

Interesting. I'd think there would always be a demand for these vehicles. I could see people buying the Lambda platform vehicles (or whatever the future platform is) because not everyone needs something with that towing capacity.

Agreed... I think there will always be a demand for vehicles of that size and capability. But, at least for the next few years, the demand isn't going to be nearly what it was. So, they can either leave the vehicles as they are and sell MUCH lower volumes of them or try to trim them down and, hopefully, try to get back some of the market share they're losing. The problem with trimmign them down is this. If they trim too much, the people who need a TRUCK aren't going to buy them.

[CalixEros]

The problem with trimmign them down is this. If they trim too much, the people who need a TRUCK aren't going to buy them.

 

The group that actually needs a truck is probably the minority, so it would be better for GM to lose the minority than the majority...

[sno]

About the only thing left to "trim" is the physical size. They are already made out of plastic & tinfoil.

[Darkanion]

About the only thing left to "trim" is the physical size. They are already made out of plastic & tinfoil.

Get rid of the body-on-frame construction, make them a uni-body, and trim a BUNCH of weight that way...

 

That'll make them a lot more "flexible" in accidents, which isn't a good thing in my mind. But, a lighter vehicle will probably get better mileage.. and more people will be more likely to buy them.

[HawkeyeOC]

Get rid of the body-on-frame construction, make them a uni-body, and trim a BUNCH of weight that way...

 

That'll make them a lot more "flexible" in accidents, which isn't a good thing in my mind. But, a lighter vehicle will probably get better mileage.. and more people will be more likely to buy them.

 

 

That is exactly what I think will happen...maybe a switch to unibody for the Yukon/Tahoe. If they can manage to get the tow rating at least in the 5000 lb range, that probably would be ok for the masses.

[pennzoil29]

I wouldn't put it past them to cut them down in size like they did the Blazer.

[D&SYukonDenali]

Doesn't trimming down the Yukon start to make it more of a station wagon; or even worse the equivalent to the Toyota Highlander?!?

[Nick The Great]

Doesn't trimming down the Yukon start to make it more of a station wagon; or even worse the equivalent to the Toyota Highlander?!?

 

We always had full size station wagons growing up (80's-90's). We lived in the country, so my mom liked the idea of being able to haul stuff. I remember going to the city (60miles) and finding a good deal on a dishwasher, so you'd throw it in the back. She was pissed when they went to the SUV trend. Smaller storage area, rougher ride, worse mileage, etc. She now drives a Buick Rendevous which is nice. But you can't haul plywood and water softner salt in the back.

 

Now the SUVs have shrunk down and these Crossovers have taken over. I don't understand the point of them. The old lady's Impala can hold more people comfortablely and has larger trunk space. I don't know what an 07 Impala's tow rating is, but it can't be much less than an Enclave's.

 

They should leave the Trucks/Large SUV's alone, for those who really need/want it.

[D&SYukonDenali]

Agree, but the big SUVs will just cost more at lower demand (economies of scale) and not get upgrade that often.