INDIANAPOLIS—General Motors announced the availability of the Duramax 6600 turbodiesel engine in the 2006 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana G2500 and G3500 series, as well as H2500 series commercial models.
The Duramax 6600 delivers 250 horsepower and a class-leading 460 lbs-ft of torque. It is teamed with the Hydra-Matic 4L85-E electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission, which is specially tuned for diesel-engine compatability.
Preliminary testing shows composite fuel economy of 20.2 mpg—which GM says is an advantage of more than 2 mpg over the primary competitor.
The Express/Savana’s maximum GVWR is 9,600, with a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs.