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  • Drew Dowdell
    Drew Dowdell

    By Drew Dowdell •

    2016 Chevrolet Suburban HD will be 3/4 Ton; Fleet Only

      The Suburban 2500 is returning in 2016, but only if you are a Government or Commercial Fleet buyer.

    The other day we reported that Chevrolet will be releasing an HD version of the Suburban for 2016 model year. Sorry to get your hopes up as we are now getting word that the HD will be built, but only for fleet buyers. Now that doesn't mean you'll be able to pick up a Suburban HD from National Car Rental during your family trip to Disney World, but if you are a fleet buyer for the US Secret Service or one of the Oil Fracking companies, you just may have a new tool available for your arsenal.

    We received official word today from a GM representative that the Suburban HD will only be available to Commercial and Government fleets. However he also referred to the Suburban HD as "...the 3/4 ton Suburban..." which answers our question as to whether the Suburban HD is an uprated 1500 or a full 2500. This could mean more engine choices or it may not. More details will be shared as they become available.

    In spite of the HD branding, the Suburban 2500 is returning.

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    Drew Dowdell

    GM's  marketing decisions never cease to perplex.

     

    You would think by their decisions that the mission is to sell fewer cars.

     

    I'm sure if you really really want one, a dealership will make one available just like they did when the Caprice PPV cars first came out.

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    Drew Dowdell

    Had that thought myself. Why do they ever pull this sort of thing?

     

    I'm sure that if there is enough demand, they tool up for bigger sales.  After a 3 year hiatus, there may be a backlog of Commercial and Government demand to fill.  Both of those will generally be much more profitable for GM. Imposing this limitation for now allows GM to fill that higher profit demand first.

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    G. David Felt

    2500HD needs to come to the Population but with the Baby V8 Duramax Diesel or at least with the option of pure CNG. This is just dragging out the inevitable that we will have it on the lots. Plenty of people want a 2500HD for towing their trailers and boats with people.

     

    If they are not sure about all lines then make the 2500HD a Yukon XL Denali edition only with Diesel. That would be very profitable for them.

     

    WAKE UP GM!

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    Drew Dowdell

    Don't get why GM wouldn't want to make it 'civilian' production ready since if you go above 8500lbs gvwr it's not even EPA rated - totally different CAFE situation there.

     

    great point

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    Z-06

     

    GM and the art of losing market share.

     

    I"m not sure how... it's not like there is any competition in this field.

     

     

    It's a generalized comment about the entire GM market share not a particular field. Avalanche didn't have competitor as well and yet GM has lost nearly 15,000 units of share. This is not going to sell in big numbers, yet it's being restricted.

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    ponchoman49

    With decisions like this and dropping there warranty down to a less desirable 5/60 power train don't be surprised to see GM drop down to the 4th largest auto manufacturer within the next few years.

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    ndcorn

    I think GM wants to make the new Suburban more desirable by keeping supply down. In my opinion, this is not the correct way to do it, but i hope they make money anyways. Even though they probably wont.

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    G. David Felt

    I hope they will bring back the 8.1 Engine !!

    I doubt it, with MPG being the issue it is, and the technology of Turbo, superchargers, and especially Hybrid power trains with amazing torque out of electric engines, I can see a HD having 400 to 450 HP and 600 lb-trq with an electric power train and generator.

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    hyperv6

    The 3/4 ton is not a big seller. Most go to businesses and that is where they will leave it.

     

    I suspect in time the larger SUV models will get reduced down as it is a segment that will not do well as time goes forward. Many other MFG have already left the segment.

     

    I had heard one GM engineer already say a couple years ago he said there was talk of leaving the larger segment at some point. With Tahoe sales doing well That I am sure is shelved but the time is running out on vehicles with high mass like this in large number's. GM may offer them but will try to limit sales to where they make money but not completely leave a segment.

     

    I can remember a 3/4 Burb on every corner but anymore it is rare to see one that does not have a company name or highway department sign on it.

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    G. David Felt

    The 3/4 ton is not a big seller. Most go to businesses and that is where they will leave it.

     

    I suspect in time the larger SUV models will get reduced down as it is a segment that will not do well as time goes forward. Many other MFG have already left the segment.

     

    I had heard one GM engineer already say a couple years ago he said there was talk of leaving the larger segment at some point. With Tahoe sales doing well That I am sure is shelved but the time is running out on vehicles with high mass like this in large number's. GM may offer them but will try to limit sales to where they make money but not completely leave a segment.

     

    I can remember a 3/4 Burb on every corner but anymore it is rare to see one that does not have a company name or highway department sign on it.

    I disagree, there is still plenty of Mormons who love the Suburbans to haul their families and then plenty of people buying trailers to camp and travel North America. I suspect most other companies are happy to leave this to GM at this point and focus on other markets.

     

    Now use a 450HP, 600lb ftt of torque electric motor with a battery pack that last 400 to 500 miles and these will be the rage again for everyone.

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    hyperv6

    Still not enough Mormons to take up the loss in the market on the numbers they used to sell.

     

    The fact is no matter how they play with the numbers they will still need to either sell more high mileage cars to counter them or not sell them at all. That is why so many have left already. I know the 3/4 segment gets a break but in time that will still not be enough unless GM can sell a lot of hybrid cars to counter that.

     

    As for you Electric idea that is nice but ideas like that come cheap and pricing them to the point people will pay them on an already maxed out priced vehicle is difficult. Add to that the guys pulling trailers are generally not tree huggers and will not pony up the extra money to save a tree. On the converse the people who are saving trees will not buy anything this large. They generally set fire to them on dealer lots.

     

    it is a good idea as if you increase the MPG on the more popular poor mileage models you will see more gain. But getting people in these segments to pay the extra cost. Not easy.

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    Drew Dowdell

    The thing is, the "normal" Suburban can handle most of the requirements that the old 3/4 tons could.  Most of the people who "needed" a Suburban 2500 10 years ago are probably finding the 1500 capable of doing everything they need today.  

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    hyperv6

    Well the real volume went to the Tahoe. I can remember thinking no one would buy a smaller Suburban but I was as far off on that one as I ever could have been. I thought no one would down size and if they did they would buy the Blazer.

    Well I watched as the Tahoe just devoured the market segment taking many sales from the larger model and all but finished off the Blazer.

     

    But on the good side GM did not loose these sales and if anything gained more with Ford going FWD/AWD with their present Explorer.

     

    They just have to get this sorted out to an acceptable model moving forward as they can not afford to loose these sales. While the CUV market is growing fast there is still a need for the Tahoe.

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    Drew Dowdell

    Well the real volume went to the Tahoe. I can remember thinking no one would buy a smaller Suburban but I was as far off on that one as I ever could have been. I thought no one would down size and if they did they would buy the Blazer.

    Well I watched as the Tahoe just devoured the market segment taking many sales from the larger model and all but finished off the Blazer.

     

    But on the good side GM did not loose these sales and if anything gained more with Ford going FWD/AWD with their present Explorer.

     

    They just have to get this sorted out to an acceptable model moving forward as they can not afford to loose these sales. While the CUV market is growing fast there is still a need for the Tahoe.

     

    Agreed... I just wish they had something in the GM stable that was more akin to the Grand Cherokee.  I like the Lambdas, but they are just too mini-van for me personally.  The GC is much more my cup of tea. 

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    Z-06

     

     

    Agreed... I just wish they had something in the GM stable that was more akin to the Grand Cherokee.  I like the Lambdas, but they are just too mini-van for me personally.  The GC is much more my cup of tea. 

     

     

    Yes, GM really needs to target GMC against Jeep duo of Wrangler and GC. Alpha would be a good donor platform for that and also for amortization of the platform.

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    hyperv6

    I agree they are too minivan like and it hurts to a point.

     

    I have hopes a Colorado based SUV is in the works and not the Holden one as it is not a real looker.

    Edited by hyperv6
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    A Horse With No Name

    2500HD needs to come to the Population but with the Baby V8 Duramax Diesel or at least with the option of pure CNG. This is just dragging out the inevitable that we will have it on the lots. Plenty of people want a 2500HD for towing their trailers and boats with people.

     

    If they are not sure about all lines then make the 2500HD a Yukon XL Denali edition only with Diesel. That would be very profitable for them.

     

    WAKE UP GM!

    Like the diesel and the CNG idea...

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    Guest judg724

    Guest judg724

    Posted

    Anyone can buy a fleet vehicle.  It's not like you must have special credentials or a business to buy one, you just need to talk to a dealer's fleet sales specialist, rather than a salesman.  Maybe some dealers would steer customers to a salesman, but I would think it's really up to the dealer what car gets sold, not GM.  They just build them, and deliver them to the dealer, they don't sell them.  I'm sure you could find a dealer willing to sell you one.

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    Cmicasa the Great

    Not only that.. I'm pretty sure that some of the decision to not sell these willy nilly to the public comes because of CAFE. 

     

    To the guy who mentioned a drop in market share.. GM market share is at 17.9% up.. from 17.7 last year as of May 2015. Ford Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai.. were all DOWN

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    Drew Dowdell

    Not only that.. I'm pretty sure that some of the decision to not sell these willy nilly to the public comes because of CAFE. 

     

    To the guy who mentioned a drop in market share.. GM market share is at 17.9% up.. from 17.7 last year as of May 2015. Ford Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai.. were all DOWN

     

    CAFE doesn't apply to trucks this large I believe. 

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    Guest Joel H

    The idea that there's more profit from fleet or government sales doesn't make sense to me.  We bought a 2013 Suburban 2500 off the lot for our fire department once we realized we couldn't order another one.  With their government "bid assist" program we bought the Suburban well under what I would have ever been able to negotiate as a walk-in customer.

     

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    Guest Miklo V

    Guest Miklo V

    Posted

    The thing is, the "normal" Suburban can handle most of the requirements that the old 3/4 tons could.  Most of the people who "needed" a Suburban 2500 10 years ago are probably finding the 1500 capable of doing everything they need today.  

     

    Yea as good as light duty 3/4 ton (TBI 350 or 6.2L diesel / 700r4 or TH400 1986-91) (1996-00 Vortec 350 in front of a 4l80e) with the semi (no) floater rear axle. 
     
    But the true HD 3/4 ton (Vortec 454,496, Duramax /4l80e) with the steep geared 14 bolt full floater axle, rated at 15,000 lbs max towing, there is NO CONTEST. These newer 1500s are Honda plastic in comparison.
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