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2018 Chevrolet Express Gains 8L90 Transmission, Loses 4.8L V8 For 4.3L V6

Also sold as the GMC Savana, the Chevrolet Express full-size van has been with us since 1995. Facelifted for the 2003 model year, the Express is as old as dirt, but it continues to serve General Motors well despite the advent of crossovers and sport utility vehicles. For 2018, however, the Express and Savana gain a couple of updates, coming in the form of an updated powertrain.
2018 Chevrolet Express 10 photos
Photo: Chevrolet
2018 Chevrolet Express2018 Chevrolet Express2018 Chevrolet Express2018 Chevrolet Express2018 Chevrolet Express2018 Chevrolet Express2018 Chevrolet Express2018 Chevrolet Express2018 Chevrolet Express
On the subject of swapping cogs, the six-speed automatic of yesterday is replaced by the eight-speed slushbox known as the Hydra-Matic 8L90. The two forward gears should help with fuel economy, though General Motors hasn’t released any figures yet. On the oily bits front, the 4.8-liter Vortec V8 (L20) is no longer available. The replacement is a naturally aspirated V6 (LV1 V6) that develops 265 horsepower and 295 pound-feet at 4,000 rpm.

Even though it’s 20 horsepower down on the L20 V8, the LV1 V6 produces the same torque lower in the rev range. Boasting aluminum cylinder block casting, spark ignition direct injection, and variable valve timing, the newcomer is a derivative of the 4.3-liter LV3 V6 offered in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a better, more modern plant than the L20 V8, which uses sequential fuel injection.

Other changes Chevy operated on the 2018 Express is the deletion of Cyber Gray Metallic and the introduction of Kinetic Blue Metallic and Satin Blue Metallic. The rearview mirror now comes with Rear Vision Camera, and in the safety department, the newities are Hill Start Assist and Side Blind Zone Alert.

Dual composite headlights, OnStar Commercial Link, and three optional packages round off the list of updates for the Express and 2018 GMC Savana. The 6.0-liter Vortec V8 SFI FlexFuel is offered under RPO code L96, and as ever, it produces 341 horsepower and 373 pound-feet at 4,400 rpm. The torquey L96 is offered as part of the Communications Package (WP9), Safety Package (WPD), and Enhanced Convenience Package (ZL3).
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 Download: 2018 Chevrolet Express order guide (PDF)

About the author: Mircea Panait
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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.
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