Here's What Got People Talking What happened was Car and Driver dug around in some government filings on vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and found something strange. Apparently, an additional VIN appeared for the GMC Yukon line, and it indicated that the SUVs would get an option for the Escalade-V's engine. This, of course, was entirely believable since the Yukon and Escalade are basically the same under the skin, plus GMC is a fairly premium brand. The same day that Car and Driver published, though, GM responded saying that the filing was a mistake and the engine wouldn't be showing up in any Yukon models.GMC GM Should Actually Consider Doing More Performance Trucks The story got a little bit of traction in a Reddit sub-thread on cars, along with some discussion about the possibilities of hotter GM trucks. That discussion included some thoughts on feasibility and what models people would actually want to see.GMCOn the feasibility front, we at CarBuzz feel it wouldn't be hard for GM to drop this supercharged V8 into other full-size trucks and SUVs since, as we already mentioned, there isn't much of a difference mechanically between the Escalade and its more affordable cousins. Additionally, the automaker isn't facing as strict fuel economy requirements or fines under the Trump administration, so adding more thirsty trucks and SUVs wouldn't have as much of a downside. Plus, there's clearly a market for outrageous V8 trucks, as proven not just by the Escalade, but also the Ram 1500 TRX and Ford F-150 Raptor R.Ian Wright/CarBuzz/ValnetNow, as for what model should get that V8, it's a little harder to say. GMC has a couple of things going for it. It's already a premium brand, so buyers should already be comfortable with the idea of an extra pricey supercharged GMC truck or SUV. The brand even has some performance truck heritage with the turbocharged V6 Typhoon and Syclone that Reddit commenters and Car and Driver both mention.At the same time, GMC has more of an image of subtle luxury and off-road capability, and a hot-rod truck seems a little out of place. The brand also already has the Hummer EVs for extreme performance. Fans also closely associate the Typhoon and Syclone with small trucks since they were based on the Jimmy and Sonoma, and with turbocharged V6 power, not old-school supercharged V8s. So leaning on those names would be weird for full-size vehicles.ChevroletOne Reddit commenter brought up the idea that a Chevy would be a better fit for the engine, particularly the Silverado ZR2, and we think they're onto something with that. Off-road trucks remain a popular niche, and we just brought up two off-road trucks with supercharged V8 engines that are on the market. With how loyal truck buyers are, there are almost certainly people who want a Chevy version of a TRX or Raptor R. Plus, in the same way GMC has a special variant of the Sierra AT4X with the AEV versions, Chevy could have this as a unique alternative.We also think Chevy could create a monster street performance truck or SUV with this engine. In a Silverado in particular, Chevy could even lean on its participation in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series. The segment is also starting to get some attention with the image-focused Ford F-150 Lobo, and the upcoming Ram street trucks. Chevy could potentially leapfrog its rivals in the space with a factory supercharged Silverado. Basically, GM has some interesting potential paths for this engine, it just has to take one.
+57 others
