I recently heard a rumor that GM is going to be putting a 6 speed transmission in the 2008 Tahoes.Can a GM factory or dealer guy confirm this please. I bet this will help the MPG a bunch.

Also, does anyone know when the 08's will launch? I heard Aug but could not confirm the month with anyone at GM.

 

The 2007 Tahoe's are scheduled to be built thru June 15th, then the plant will close and build on the 08 models will commence on or about June 25th.
The 6-speed auto will become standard in all the 2008 1500 products. (Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche, Silverado etc).
There will also be a Hybrid Tahoe for 2008 that will get 4-5 more mpg.

 

What is the advantage of a 6 speed? Are they time tested reliable like the current transmission or are the new buyers guinea pigs? I really don't see why people are in such anticipation of this. I would rather see the current small annoyances fixed. Things like turning the DVD on from the front seat, getting the Nav/Radio to automatically adjust brightness for day and night and getting the remote start to run longer than 10 minutes.

 

I've heard that the 4 speed final drive ratio isslightly higherthat that of the 6 speed on the 4x4 tahoe. Does that sound correct?

-Al

 

Will the hybrid be available in Flex Fuel as well?

 

zx100f1...Thanks for the info. That is exactly what I was looking for. You must be a GM employee!

Re the 6 speed, I believe that this is a current transmission on other verhicles. I had heard that the reliability has been excellent. Is this correct? Also to expect about 1 mpg better gas mileage at highway speeds. Does this sound about right?

 

The ratio's for the 4 vs. 6-speed are as follows (not a huge deal) and the 6L80 6-speed trans has been around the block and has proven to be an extremely robust unit.

4L60E gear ratios: 1st 3.06, 2nd 1.75, 3rd 1.00, 4th 0.70.

6L80 gear ratios: 1st 4.02, 2nd 2.36, 3rd 1.53, 4th 1.15, 5th 0.85, 6th 0.67

 

The Hybrid will initially not have Flex-Fuel capability.
The 5.3L engine will still incorporate Active Fuel Management though.
Navigation system is standard on all Hybrid Tahoe's as well.

 

FYI, this was posted on pickuptruck.com in their 2007 Denali review. GM is putting out some mixed messages about the 6 speed tranny in the 1500's.

Quote:

Other GM full size pickups should see their mileage numbers improve once the six speed transmission rolls out to the rest of the light duty haulers, but this won’t occur until the 2009 model year at the earliest – a fact confirmed during and after the New York International Auto Show by GM’s product and communications staff.

 

Actually GM hasn't made any official statements regarding the 6-speed auto in the GMT900 1500 products, and if you try to pin down a PR or Marketing guy they will always deny everything.

The announcement will happen at the end of the month.