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CUMBERLAND, MD – If the new Ford F-Series Super Duty is the immovable object, then the new GMC Sierra HD and Chevrolet Silverado HD are the irresistible forces.
With both vehicles all-new for ’11, these behemoths are bound to clash like gladiators as they arrive in the market at roughly the same time.
During a recent GM test drive here, following an extended turn in the Ford Super Duty, we’re predicting one ferocious battle, as the trucks are evenly matched in most regards.
The wild card is Chrysler Group LLC, which launched an all-new heavy-duty Ram last year, with towing capabilities that come up shy of the Ford and GM offerings.
Both the Silverado and more upscale Sierra are work trucks, plain and simple. Need a commuter vehicle? Look elsewhere. The intended purpose is hauling and pulling things. Big things.
While GM trucks come available with a 6.0L Vortec gas V-8 making 360 hp and 380 lb.-ft. (515 Nm) of torque, it’s the 6.6L Duramax diesel that inspires awe. The OHV oil burner boasts 387 hp and a ground-shaking 765 lb.-ft. (1,037 Nm) of twist.
Eye-popping torque figures are common in this segment. The new Super Duty diesel churns out 735 lb.-ft. (997 Nm), at least until Ford engineers can squeeze out enough stump-pulling grunt to reclaim the torque crown.
But as much as it is a “mine-is-bigger-than-yours” contest between Ford and GM, engine output is a top purchase decision in the heavy-duty pickup market.
To demonstrate the trucks’ Herculean strength, GM engineers cobbled together a series of grueling tests.
