GM Exec Explains Why Chevy Colorado And GMC Canyon Have Only One Engine Option

The 2.8-liter diesel is no longer available.

2023 GMC Canyon

Angel Sergeev

By: Angel Sergeev

Nov 21, 2022 at 4:57am ET

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With underbody cameras, lifted ride height with Multimatic DSSV dampers, and many other hardware upgrades, the new GMC Canyon is one very capable truck. One change over its predecessor that the customers may not be happy about, however, is the lack of a diesel engine in the portfolio. Just like the new Chevrolet Colorado, the Canyon is offered with just one mill but there’s a very logical explanation for that. General Motors executive shines more light in a new interview.

Nick Katcherian, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon Chief Engineer, recently spoke to Muscle Cars and Trucks and told the publication the turbocharged 2.7-liter four-cylinder unit found under the hood of the two products is simply too good and there is simply no need for a diesel option. The torquey mill performs better in basically every department than the previous 2.8-liter Duramax diesel and GM doesn't want to make things more complicated by offering different engines.

Gallery: 2023 GMC Canyon

2023 GMC Canyon AT4X Edition 1

“It really has to deal with the fact that this powertrain has all the torque that you need. You get it faster, and so when you look at the advantages that the diesel offered in the past, and you compare it against this engine, this engine does a much better job at all of that,” Katcherian told the online publication.

The new 2.7-liter inline-four is offered in three power stages for Chevy. The base version has 237 horsepower (177 kilowatts) and 259 pound-feet (351 Nm) of torque and above it is a version with 310 hp (231 kW) and 390 lb-ft (529 Nm) of twist. The range-topping variant – the only one available for the new Canyon – has a peak output of 310 hp (231 kW) and 430 lb-ft (583 Nm). This means the actual options offered for the Colorado are three, though they are all based on the same hardware setup with minimal modifications for the entry-level engine.

New Canyon And Colorado Are Out:

2023 GMC Canyon Debuts With Rugged, New AT4X Trim That Costs Over $60K

2023 Chevrolet Colorado Debuts With Multiple Off-Road-Focused Trims

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With this simplification of the engine range, it’s much easier for General Motors to produce the trucks at the Wentzville plant as there are fewer different components between the different engine options, trim levels, and packages.

“When you look at underhood packaging and all the stuff we house around it. We can do a lot of the same configurations, so if you look at our engine line at the plant, that part that builds off the harness and stuff before it gets dropped into the truck. That allows us to have a very similar build process for both engines,” Katcherian explained.

Source: Muscle Cars and Trucks

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