Having previously claimed best-in-class torque ratings for V6-equipped versions of its new full-size pickups, GM has now announced that the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 with the standard 4.3-liter EcoTec3 engine also will be at the head of the competitive pack when it comes to both peak payload (2,108 lb) and maximum tow rating (7,200 lb). Those figures give the Silverado/Sierra a 178-lb advantage over the 2013 Ford F-150 fitted with its base 3.7-liter V6 in the former category and a 700-lb edge over a 2013 Ram 1500 fitted with a 3.6-liter V6 in the latter.
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Making 285 horsepower at 5,300 rpm and 305 lb-ft of peak torque at 3,900 revs, GM says the high-tech 4.3-liter’s combination of direct fuel injection, continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation that lets it operate on only four cylinders under light load conditions also will ensure that both trucks deliver outstanding fuel economy. Rear-drive Silverado/Sierra models have 18/25-mpg city/highway projected EPA ratings regardless of cab configuration, while their 4-wheel drive counterparts earn 17/22 mpg marks. Only the rear-drive 2013 Ram 1500 HFE matches that city stat and holds a 1-mpg edge on the highway. Further bolstering GM’s claim that the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra will be the most capable standard V6 full-size pickup trucks, the 4.3-liter EcoTec3 also cranks out nearly 75 percent of its peak torque — 230 lb-ft — at just 1,200 rpm.
You Should Also Know…
The Ford Atlas Concept hints at what you’ll see in the 2015 F-150 redesign
The 2014 Ram 1500 pickup will offer a turbodiesel option
The Toyota Highlander is getting a comprehensive makeover for 2014
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