Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra to Drop a Couple of Engines
What kind of changes do the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 have in store for the 2022 model year? General Motors should make some annoucements in the next few months, but you can expect fewer options under the hood.
According to a presentation the automaker gave at the 2021 Work Truck Show this week and which GM Authority got a copy, the 4.3-litre V6 will not return and neither will the 5.3-litre V8 with Active Fuel Management. This means the six-speed automatic transmission they’re mated to is also not coming back.
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However, the 5.3-litre V8 variant featuring Dynamic Fuel Management, which delivers the same 355 horsepower but relies on an eight- or ten-speed autobox, is safe.
Compared to Active Fuel Management, which alternates between eight- and four-cylinder modes, Dynamic Fuel Management features 17 cylinder patterns. That greater authority mixes cylinder patterns constantly to optimize efficiency and power delivery at all speeds.
As for the old V6, the writing has been on the wall since the addition of the turbocharged 2.7-litre four-cylinder. The latter not only provides more power (310 hp vs. 285 hp) and more torque (348 lb-ft. vs. 305 lb-ft.), but also quicker acceleration, improved fuel economy and better towing and payload capabilities. Credit goes to the turbocharger, of course, but also the high-tech valvetrain and eight-speed transmission.
The other engine options with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 include a 6.2-litre V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft.) and a 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel (277 hp, 460 lb-ft.), both paired with the ten-speed autobox.
As previously reported, GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system will be available in the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali—a direct response to the new 2021 Ford F-150’s optional hands-free Active Drive Assist technology.