Well, some in the media will practically ream GM for something no matter how great it is (Corvettes somewhat get a pass). The fact that the 4.8 and 5.3L will get the best fuel economy in the class (and better than some midsize utes as well) won't matter...

I think the issue is rollout volume. The 6 speed autos are getting initial exposure in some lower volume vehicles (3, to be exact): Corvette, STS-V, and XLR-V (both with the 440 - 470 hp supercharged Northstar 4.4L). They probably want to see some real world use of the 6L80 before turning it loose in 1.2 million vehicles (the full GMT900 pickup and SUV line) all at once.

I'm bummed about it too (I was shocked when I saw emissions test vehicles several months ago that listed the 4 speed auto), but the drivetrain is still more than competent even with 4 gears. When the 6 speeds are mated up to the 5.3 and 4.8 (hopefully after only one model year or less), perhaps we'll see another 1 mpg improvement.

 

The 3rd row seat has been beat to death. It's a trade off - in the SUV's that do have it they just rais the metal on the back so the actual height from floor to top is say 6" less. IMO, I would rather have that extra space??? They didn't make them fold flat - they just raised the floor and made the actual storage area less......

Your selling 200k units and donot have the capacity to sell 200k trannies. As they sell more they will be able to improve and expand production to all units.

But if all people can bitch about is fold flat seats and little stuff like that GM will improve on the market.

 

Sorry Threxx, I just really think you're reaching.

 

The truck looks ok to me. The design exterior wise is kind of bland, and will look outdated in a couple of years. THe interior looks good except for the horrible looking trim piece around the center, and the steering wheel is ugly as hell to me. The switchgear does look like much better quality from the pics

Overall just from the pics, I do not see an interior that is award winning or revolutionary. And I see an exterior that looks good , but not great. But I also dogged the Impala's looks from a pic, but in person give it much more props.

On an unrelated note..Why doesn't GM introduce diesels for the Tahoe. An option like that would immediately make me consider the Tahoe, even though I do not get much of a great feeling when seeing these pics.

 

Emissions standards make it very costly for light-duty diesel engines.

 

Ok, but if that's true, I would think a rear seat constantly there would take up more room than just a slightly lower height from deck to roof. It's all about good marketing anyway. This type of logic where GM dictates to the customer what they want and not vice-versa is what keeps them in the mess they're in. The 900's (as with any new product) need to be the obvious choice in the segment for years to come...that means no half-a$$ing the features, and no holding back.

Ugh.

 

Well, you actually explained more than you know. I hadn't seen the designation of the trans until you wrote the 6L80E. This would be GM's heavy duty gasser trans. This will not be the same trans they put in the light duty half ton trucks. I would imagine that we would see a 6-speed version of the 4L60E, or 4L65E for use in these vehicles.

My guess is that this transmission is not ready yet.

It will be interesting to see what the revised Expedition will all have '07MY also). I know it will not have the variations that the Tahoe will have. However, it will have 6-speeds across the board.

 

Will probably change my mind once I see it in person, but that things just.......

Just something about that front end, but I have to agree with the Ford thing, that was the very first thing that came to mind.

 

Well, the 6L80E is going in the 400 hp Vette, the 400 hp GMT900s (those with the 6.2L), as well as the 440 hp XLR-V and the 469 hp STS-V. According to the press release from yesterday, the 350 hp 6.0L versions of the GMT900 will start out with a revised, uprated 4L70E (up from 4L65E). The 4.8L and 5.3L will have the 4L60E at the beginning of production.

As for the other families of 6 speeds, I'm not sure what the numbers will be. For some reason I'm thinking 6L70 (or 6L60?), 6L80, and 6L90, but I could be off there. In the transverse world, the first one to come to market (in the 2007 Saturn Aura) is designated the 6T70.

 

I have no problem with fake wood trim as long as it looks fairly convincing and has a gloss coat, like it does in this case. Of course real wood still looks best, but even then it's just a veneer. If plastic can be made to look like real wood then I see no need to use real wood on a cheaper vehicle like this. I think the interior looks 100% better.

 

There just isnt room for a flat folding rear seat in a truck with a live axle . Putting IRS in the expedition opened that flexablity for Ford . I believe the Durango is sporting a IRS too .

 

I gave up reading here at page three, but I have to say that I don't see any ford in the truck. I see the running boards that look like ford running boards and give the bottom 1/2 a funny look. Imagine a set of chrome bars instead and, for me, any ford resemblance goes away.

 

Gotta agree with Pacer X (boy was that hard to do! ) - you're just flat wrong.

Tell you what, start with this: Go figure out the relationship between HP and Torque, and how this affects acceleration, then come back and post what you found out.

 

He is going to find out he is wrong.

 

I'm pretty sure the Durango sports a live axle.