Repost? No, GM to develop XFE Silverado & Yukon
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Repost? No, GM to develop XFE Silverado & Yukon
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/g...rra-and-tahoe/
Seems like whoever was speculating about this a while ago was right on the money.
GM debuts fuel-saving XFE versions of Silverado/Sierra and Tahoe/Yukon
Posted Aug 12th 2008 12:31AM by John Neff
Remember earlier in the year when Chevy quietly added the 36-mpg XFE model to its Cobalt lineup? XFE stands for "Xtra Fuel Economy" (should we tell them they spelled "Extra" wrong?) and means these vehicles have been equipped with some easy fuel-saving technologies to eek out as many miles per gallon as possible. GM announced today that the Cobalt XFE will be joined by XFE versions of the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon for the 2009 model year.
The General already offers hybrid versions of its full-size SUVs, which are also joined by hybrid versions of its half-ton trucks for 2009, but the XFE models will continue to be powered by a flex-fuel version of the company's 5.3L gasser V8. It produces 320 hp/340lb-ft in the Tahoe and Yukon, and 315 hp/338 lb-ft in the Tahoe and Yukon. All are rear-wheel-drive only and mated to GM's 6L80 six-speed auto with a fuel-saving 3.08 ratio rear axle. In order to maximize fuel economy, all four of these new XFE models get low rolling resistance tires, aluminum wheels, an aluminum spare wheel, aluminum lower control arms and a lowered suspension with revised tuning. In addition, the Silverado and Sierra also get a new front lower air dam and soft tonneau cover that improve their aerodynamics.
What does it all add up to? 1 mpg. All four standard vehicles were rated at 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway, while their XFE counterparts bump those numbers to 15 city/21 highway. The gains are certainly minimal and we're not sure yet what sort of price premium XFE models will demand, but we give GM credit for at least reacting to the current shift in consumer tastes so quickly. We would have preferred, however, that it had just made these fuel-saving changes standard equipment rather than a separate model.
Posted Aug 12th 2008 12:31AM by John Neff
Remember earlier in the year when Chevy quietly added the 36-mpg XFE model to its Cobalt lineup? XFE stands for "Xtra Fuel Economy" (should we tell them they spelled "Extra" wrong?) and means these vehicles have been equipped with some easy fuel-saving technologies to eek out as many miles per gallon as possible. GM announced today that the Cobalt XFE will be joined by XFE versions of the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon for the 2009 model year.
The General already offers hybrid versions of its full-size SUVs, which are also joined by hybrid versions of its half-ton trucks for 2009, but the XFE models will continue to be powered by a flex-fuel version of the company's 5.3L gasser V8. It produces 320 hp/340lb-ft in the Tahoe and Yukon, and 315 hp/338 lb-ft in the Tahoe and Yukon. All are rear-wheel-drive only and mated to GM's 6L80 six-speed auto with a fuel-saving 3.08 ratio rear axle. In order to maximize fuel economy, all four of these new XFE models get low rolling resistance tires, aluminum wheels, an aluminum spare wheel, aluminum lower control arms and a lowered suspension with revised tuning. In addition, the Silverado and Sierra also get a new front lower air dam and soft tonneau cover that improve their aerodynamics.
What does it all add up to? 1 mpg. All four standard vehicles were rated at 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway, while their XFE counterparts bump those numbers to 15 city/21 highway. The gains are certainly minimal and we're not sure yet what sort of price premium XFE models will demand, but we give GM credit for at least reacting to the current shift in consumer tastes so quickly. We would have preferred, however, that it had just made these fuel-saving changes standard equipment rather than a separate model.
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I understand what they are trying to do, and there is merit there, but:
1) Haven't the semi-failing full size hybrids shown that maybe this is not the market segment to capture MPG-gung ho people? Don't get me wrong, I, myself, think it is a logical idea (though they are not cost effective, but if you are a greenie, hey here you go), but apparently the purchasing public disagrees...
2) A mere 1 MPG gain risks 'watering down' the XFE badge. Is it possible that when people see the minimal gain here that they will begin to ignore the XFE badge on other cars in the lineup where it makes a bigger difference?
3) It'll be interesting to see how much this package adds to the sticker of the vehicle... and how long the it takes to rocover the cost-to-purchase based on the 1MPG gain vs the price of the XFE package.
1) Haven't the semi-failing full size hybrids shown that maybe this is not the market segment to capture MPG-gung ho people? Don't get me wrong, I, myself, think it is a logical idea (though they are not cost effective, but if you are a greenie, hey here you go), but apparently the purchasing public disagrees...
2) A mere 1 MPG gain risks 'watering down' the XFE badge. Is it possible that when people see the minimal gain here that they will begin to ignore the XFE badge on other cars in the lineup where it makes a bigger difference?
3) It'll be interesting to see how much this package adds to the sticker of the vehicle... and how long the it takes to rocover the cost-to-purchase based on the 1MPG gain vs the price of the XFE package.
Last edited by Darth Xed; Aug 12, 2008 at 07:52 AM.
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From: Pewee Valley, KY
I understand what they are trying to do, and there is merit there, but:
1) Haven't the semi-failing full size hybrids shown that maybe this is not the market segment to capture MPG-gung ho people? Don't get me wrong, I, myself, think it is a logical idea (though they are not cost effective, but if you are a greenie, hey here you go), but apparently the purchasing public disagrees...
2) A mere 1 MPG gain risks 'watering down' the XFE badge. Is it possible that when people see the minimal gain here that they will begin to ignore the XFE badge on other cars in the lineup where it makes a bigger difference?
3) It'll be interesting to see how much this package adds to the sticker of the vehicle... and how long the it takes to rocover the cost-to-purchase based on the 1MPG gain vs the price of the XFE package.
1) Haven't the semi-failing full size hybrids shown that maybe this is not the market segment to capture MPG-gung ho people? Don't get me wrong, I, myself, think it is a logical idea (though they are not cost effective, but if you are a greenie, hey here you go), but apparently the purchasing public disagrees...
2) A mere 1 MPG gain risks 'watering down' the XFE badge. Is it possible that when people see the minimal gain here that they will begin to ignore the XFE badge on other cars in the lineup where it makes a bigger difference?
3) It'll be interesting to see how much this package adds to the sticker of the vehicle... and how long the it takes to rocover the cost-to-purchase based on the 1MPG gain vs the price of the XFE package.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Madisonville, Louisiana
I understand what they are trying to do, and there is merit there, but:
2) A mere 1 MPG gain risks 'watering down' the XFE badge. Is it possible that when people see the minimal gain here that they will begin to ignore the XFE badge on other cars in the lineup where it makes a bigger difference?
2) A mere 1 MPG gain risks 'watering down' the XFE badge. Is it possible that when people see the minimal gain here that they will begin to ignore the XFE badge on other cars in the lineup where it makes a bigger difference?
Its the SS deal all over again.
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From: Dollars, Taxes
1 mpg??? What a waste 
Assuming the average driver would go from averaging 17 to 18 mpgs, it would take over 80,000 miles of driving to recoup an assumed $1000 price premium (assuming gas averages $4.00/gal).
Why not hit the standard Silverados and Tahoes with the weight shaving treatment they gave the hybrids? ~350 lbs...
Assuming the average driver would go from averaging 17 to 18 mpgs, it would take over 80,000 miles of driving to recoup an assumed $1000 price premium (assuming gas averages $4.00/gal).
Why not hit the standard Silverados and Tahoes with the weight shaving treatment they gave the hybrids? ~350 lbs...
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 579
From: Rock Hill, SC
Although I agree that using the XFE badge on a vehicle that gets 1mpg better than the standard is a waste...
That is a 7% increase in City milage and 5% on the highway over the standard silverado which already lead it's v8 segment in fuel economy.
There still is a market for trucks, it just isn't as big as it was a few years ago, and the production capacity GREATLY exceeds the current demand... Anything GM can do to get a truck buyer to pick a Silverado over a F150 or Ram 1500 is a good thing.
That is a 7% increase in City milage and 5% on the highway over the standard silverado which already lead it's v8 segment in fuel economy.
There still is a market for trucks, it just isn't as big as it was a few years ago, and the production capacity GREATLY exceeds the current demand... Anything GM can do to get a truck buyer to pick a Silverado over a F150 or Ram 1500 is a good thing.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 470
From: Wichita, KS
Just to give a slight counterpoint the % increase in fuel milage from the cobalt XFE and the trcks XFE is about the same. A 10% gain for a car getting 25mpg is 3.5mpg where as a truck getting 15mpg is just 1.5mpg.
I personally believe they should have just incorporated these changes into the standard vehicles except for the tires and called it a day.
I personally believe they should have just incorporated these changes into the standard vehicles except for the tires and called it a day.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,448
From: Irving, TX
1 mpg??? What a waste
Assuming the average driver would go from averaging 17 to 18 mpgs, it would take over 80,000 miles of driving to recoup an assumed $1000 price premium (assuming gas averages $4.00/gal).
Why not hit the standard Silverados and Tahoes with the weight shaving treatment they gave the hybrids? ~350 lbs...
Assuming the average driver would go from averaging 17 to 18 mpgs, it would take over 80,000 miles of driving to recoup an assumed $1000 price premium (assuming gas averages $4.00/gal).
Why not hit the standard Silverados and Tahoes with the weight shaving treatment they gave the hybrids? ~350 lbs...
I don't think that an XFE is going to cost $1000 more. I doubt there is much price difference in the tires and wheels. Tranny is slightly more. That is it.
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Posts: 669
From: Arcadia, OK
Why did they loose 1 mpg city from 08 to 09? My 08 Sierra 5.3 2wd is rated 15 city/20 highway. The 09 5.3 2wd is rated 14 city/20 highway with the 6-speed auto. 2 extra gears and they get worse mileage? 
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From: Irving, TX
Seems odd to me.