“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.
