“Xtra Fuel Economy” – it’s working for the recently introduced Cobalt XFE, so General Motors will expand the package to two of its lowest fuel economy-rated lines, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Silverado and GMC Yukon and Sierra. GM says that the XFE improvements – which focus on minor mechanical changes, aerodynamic upgrades and weight-saving measures – will reduce overall consumption by up to 5 percent.
With the tweaks – details of which have not been released – GM says that all four models will see EPA fuel economy ratings increase 1 mpg in both city and highway testing to 15/21. The aerodynamic modifications have lowered the co-efficient of drag to 0.412 for the Silverado XFE and Sierra XFE pickups, claimed to be the lowest of any full-size pickup.
Though pricing hasn’t been announced, the XFE trim level will be available only on two-wheel-drive models with a six-speed automatic and a 5.3-liter engine. Though GM is remaining quiet on the subject of sales expectations, the Cobalt XFE – available only with a 5-speed manual transmission – makes up about 8 percent of Cobalt sales.
A persisting, though unconfirmed, rumor is that GM will take the aerodynamic tweaks and low rolling resistance tires from the Tahoe and Yukon hybrid models and add them to the non-hybrid XFE models.
08/12, 9:47 AM
posted by:
injunraiv
LOL, these were already the most efficient trucks out there, yet LLN uses a phrase like “it’s least efficient line”. WTG, boneheads!
08/12, 10:21 AM
posted by:
Brendino
1 MPG ain’t a lot to get excited about, but it’s good marketing and it’ll probably be cheaper to do it, so why not? It’s not like the two-mode Aura where you get marginal improvement for more money.
08/12, 10:21 AM
posted by:
cookie4me
GM should just incorporate the changes throughout the trim levels and charge the cash to cover the cost. You could probably cover the cost difference with the cost of gas you save in just a few months. Anything to separate your truck line from the market in terms of fuel economy has to be a huge priority in this market.
08/12, 10:23 AM
posted by:
cookie4me
1 MPG is a lot on these trucks. Going from 14 to 15 is over 7% improvement (although the article cited 5% overall).
08/12, 10:52 AM
posted by:
Brendino
@cookie4me – they would, except the XFE models generally don’t look as good. ::shrugs::
And you’re right, that is a big improvement, but with the irregularity of real-world MPG versus EPA ratings, that can easily be lost.
08/12, 10:56 AM
posted by:
RaineMan
Ooh… a 1MPG increase. Big freaking whoop.
Simply redesigning the intake and exhaust systems for higher flow could have gotten them 5MPG.
08/12, 11:08 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Interesting sales gimmick. I’ll bet Ford, Dodge and Toyota are all busy working away their own versions.
08/12, 11:20 AM
posted by:
Fletch
There is a fuel ecomony map on the Cobb access port, I really should try it before my next highway trip. I can’t imagine the entrance/exit ramps would be as much fun though
08/12, 11:52 AM
posted by:
Brendino
@RaineMan – If something that simple could be that effective, I’m sure they would have/would be doing it.
Although really, they should put some detuned engines in their XFE models and see what happens. We don’t need Camrys that go to 60 in 6 seconds…
08/12, 12:03 PM
posted by:
shaver
Extra Fu*%#ng Economy!
08/12, 12:11 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Problem is, nobodies getting the XFE models. A lot of dealerships don’t even know about the model.
Personally, I can’t tell the difference between regular and XFE models, brendino. On closer examination, the thinner tires and rims themselves is about all.
08/12, 12:54 PM
posted by:
Boxster2.7L
I think the XFE is just a moniker added to every cobalt model. The trim lines are still LS and LT, but they are all XFEs as well.
08/12, 3:13 PM
posted by:
ktulu
who cares?
08/12, 4:11 PM
posted by:
brassmonkey
Hey johnny. I bet Toyota ain’t working on their own version. They are idle building Tundras and Sequoia. That’s less failed motors to recall, I guess.
08/12, 6:24 PM
posted by:
inline6
GM will save more fuel by improving its Silverado/Sierra fuel economy by 1mpg that Toyota would improving its Prius mpg by 15mpg.
650,000 Silverado/Sierras saving 1mpg each will save 25.35 million gallons of gasoline.
150,000 Priuses saving 15mpg each will save 12.5 million gallons.
XFE applies only to Cobalts with manual transmissions that aren’t SS models.
08/13, 4:34 AM
posted by:
El Aleman
Interesting idea, works in Europe, where almost every brand has a “green” version of most important models that saves some fuel with a few tweaks in terms of aerodynamics, wasted energy in the powertrain, tire friction and perhaps weight..
VW started the whole thing with the Polo Bluemotion, which uses 4.3 litres of Diesel per 100 km, an equivalent of 55 mpg. Now there’s a Passat, Golf, etc. with the label, and Mercedes, Opel, Séat, Skoda (the last two owned by VW) are following.
Some people argue that it would be more effective to just put these changes into every car as a standard feature, but only BMW is actually doin this with the whole “efficient dynamics” thing.
08/18, 1:18 PM
posted by:
Randy Fox
Thanks, cookie4me.
While 1 MPG doesn’t sound like a lot to write home about, it adds up.
This is a step forward. Thanks again for understanding our effort.
-Randy Fox, GMC Communications