General Motors is reportedly considering diesel engines in the US-spec Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon and a new report is indicating their half-ton counterparts could also adopt an oil burner.
General Motors spokesman Tom Wilkinson confirmed the company still has access to the VM Motori-built 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine that is used in the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. Despite the availability of the engine, the company doesn’t believe the benefits would outweigh the price premium that would be passed on to consumers.
Ram and Nissan would beg to differ as both their half-ton trucks are slated to offer a diesel engine. The Ram uses the aforementioned 3.0-liter V6 EcoDiesel engine that produces 240 bhp (179 kW) and 420 lb-ft (568 Nm) of torque, while the Titan will have a new 5.0-liter V8 Cummins turbo diesel that produces more than 300 bhp (223 kW) and 550 lb-ft (744 Nm) of torque.
General Motors is pessimistic about the success of diesel-powered half-ton pickups, but Wilkinson said the company is “in a position to respond quickly” if the Ram and Titan diesels are a success.