It's been almost 10 years since General Motors stopped selling the Chevy/GMC Suburban with an optional diesel engine. Since the demise of the 6.5L Subs, the only fullsize SUV you could buy with an oil-burner was the Ford Excursion, and that disappeared after 2005. that's all set to change thanks to the '07 SEMA introduction of the Chevy Suburban hD Z71 concept with a fuel-sipping 4.5L Duramax diesel V-8 under the hood.
The truck you see here is the result of a "what if" exercise where designers combined the Suburban 2500hD with the popular Z71 off-road package (a combo that's not currently offered). Production parts include the front-end assembly from a 3/4-ton Silverado, a 9 1/2-inch 14-bolt rear axle, Z71 running boards, and a stylized, polished version of the familiar bazooka tailpipe found on LMM trucks. the design experiment also included concept pieces such as 20-inch chrome wheels, a billet fuel door, chrome hood louvers, and rear fender flares to match the look of the new front clip.
The 4.5L Duramax V-8 under the hood will be rated at more than 300 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque, which should be enough to lug a hefty trailer while achieving 20 mpg or better. Although this Suburban hD Z71 is only an experimental concept, it looks like GM is serious about selling it here in the U.S. because it appeared to be equipped with a ureaspraying selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system, which means it could meet the new emissions rules and be sold as early as 2009. We can't wait!
Chevy Suburban HD Z71Engine: 4.5L DuramaxDisplacement: 4.5L (275 ci)Configuration: V-8Horsepower: 310Torque: 520 lb-ftHead Material: Cast aluminumBlock Material: Compacted graphite ironValvetrain: DOhC 32-valveFuel System: high-pressure common-rail;cylinder pressure sensorsTurbo: Variable geometryIntercooler: Air-to-air; integrated cam cover/intake manifoldPotential Platforms: Chevy Suburban,and GMC Yukon xL, hummer h2,Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra,Chevy tahoe/GMC Yukon/Cadillac Escalade