Power Up: 6.2-liter V-8 Output Figures Announced for 2014 Silverado, Sierra

In a group of friends, there’s always someone belligerent enough to wrestle you down and claim absolute domination, even if that victory is fleeting. And while we don’t think the Detroit-based truck manufacturers are ready to suplex one another—yet—when it comes to horsepower, they’ll brag about winning numbers any way they can.

This time, it’s Chevrolet and GMC pinning everyone with their new Gen V small block–based 6.2-liter Ecotec3 V-8, with the General announcing that it pumps out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque on top-end 2014 Silverado and Sierra models. That’s not only within spitting distance of the small-block-packin’ 2014 Corvette Stingray—the engines aren’t identical but they’re closely related—it’s also up considerably from the 2013 half-tonner’s 403 hp and 417 lb-ft. It also tops every other V-8 half-ton pickup on the market. Ford’s 6.2-liter V-8, with 411 hp and 434 lb-ft, loses the top spot, while Ram’s 5.7-liter Hemi (395 hp, 410 lb-ft), Toyota’s 5.7-liter iForce (381 hp, 401 lb-ft), and Nissan’s 5.6-liter Endurance (317 hp, 385 lb-ft) eight pots fall short, too.

• Comparison Test: 2014 Chevy Silverado vs. Ford F-150, Ram 1500
• Instrumented Test: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L 4×4 Crew Cab
• Instrumented Test: 2014 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L 4×4 Crew Cab

The V-8 is equipped with cylinder deactivation to save fuel, but when all eight holes are alight, the 6.2-liter engine enables a 12,000-pound tow rating when teamed with the Max Trailering package, which includes an automatic locking heavy-duty rear axle with a 3.73:1 ratio, beefier rear leaf springs, new shocks, a trailer brake controller, and a larger radiator. That’s a 1300-pound towing bump from 2013, and at this moment, it’s 700 and 1550 pounds up on the F-150 and Ram 1500, respectively.

But note that all these big numbers are reserved for the most expensive trims, specifically the Silverado LTZ, Silverado High Country, Sierra SLT, and Sierra Denali. Pricing, performance, and fuel-economy estimates for the 6.2-liter V-8 models haven’t been announced, but we expect them to be trickled out over the next few weeks. When that happens, expect the numbers game to flare up again. The big-motored GM trucks go on sale this fall.

Source: CarAndDriver