Ford may be readying its all-new 4.4L diesel powerplant for use in several full-size vehicles, but General Motors isn’t about to let the Blue Oval steal all the diesel thunder in the Motor City. On Monday, GM announced the details on its upcoming 4.5L diesel mill, slated for duty in the 2010 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.
Despite the extra equipment needed to make the diesel engine 50-state legal and for its twin-turbo setup, the 4.5L powerplant actually fits in the same space as its small block gasoline counterpart — thanks to a narrow-angle V-block and some impressive engineering. In fact, the new engine is made with 70 fewer parts than past Duramax diesels.
But don’t let the engine’s small size fool you — it still packs quite a punch. According to GM, the engine will produce 310 horsepower and 520 lb-ft or torque. Despite the massive amounts of power on tap, the engine will be 25 percent more fuel efficient than a comparable gasoline engine.
The engine will meet Tier 2 Bin 5 and LEV 2 emissions regulations, thanks to a particulate filter and a downstream NOx treatment system.
The new engine is only officially scheduled for use in the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, but it will likely spread to GM’s other full-size vehicles.
