GMC released the first photographs of the 2017 model year Sierra Denali 2500 HD. It looks great, doesn’t it? However, GMC forgot to provide what’s hiding underneath the hood scoop. Fret not, though.
Other than the pics and the hood scoop, all we know from GMC is the following PR talk: “Additional details and information on the new model will be released in the coming months.” Boo and hiss, I know, right? But then again, it’s safe to assume that the functional hood scoop is there to channel air to an updated version of the 6.6-liter Duramax turbo diesel V8 engine.
The current leader of the 3/4-ton genre is the 2016 Ram 2500. Its 6.7-liter Cummins Diesel inline-six churns out 900 lb-ft (1,220 Nm) of torque, enough grunt to tow 17,980 pounds (8,155 kilograms).
Another newcomer in the segment is the 2017 Ford Super Duty. In F-250 form, the heavy-duty pickup truck is available with a 6.7-liter Power Stroke Diesel. The updated engine complements a lighter yet tougher chassis and body shell. As such, it’s natural to expect that the 2017 model year of the 3/4-ton Super Duty will trump the 2016 Ford F-250 maximum tow rating of 16,600 pounds (7,529 kilograms).
I know I’m taking a stab in the dark here, but everything leads to an updated 6.6-liter Duramax turbo diesel V8 for the 2017 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD. It remains to be seen if the Sierra will be able to outclass the Ram 2500. Then again, I’m keeping my fingers crossed General Motors will not get left behind.
The second-to-final argument I have for an updated 6.6-liter Duramax oil-chugging engine is a clip uploaded to YouTube by The Fast Lane Truck. Indeed, the workhorse spied in the video below is a GMC Sierra 2500 HD pre-production prototype, hood scoop and all. Spoiler alert: General Motors has yet to find a better place for the DEF tank. As for the final argument, check out the lettering on the hood. I rest my case.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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