Davis notes that, "Ten years ago, the industry sold less than 10,000 diesel pickups a year in the United States," Davis says. "Today, customer requirements for more power and torque, coupled with a need for more efficiency and durability, have raised demand far beyond that. We think we'll see industry sales of more than 250,000 diesel pickups a year in the very near future."
Phil Kling, GM of Canada's director of product PR, says diesel engines are actually playing a smaller role in the full-size pickup market in Canada but points out that the segment is growing so diesel volume is up overall. Unfortunately, GM's share of the diesel market in Canada is also down.
Kling says, ''We're encouraged by what we have seen so far from the Duramax 6.6L engine. Our goal, obviously, is to increase total diesel sales in Canada as well as our share of that market."
The dragstrip experience would suggest that GM of Canada's goal could indeed be realized. Even though it was loaded down with weights to make it match the avoirdupois of comparable diesel entries from Ford and Chrysler, the Duramax Diesel was able to outrun them with ease.
Run the same races at their regular curbweights and the heavy-duty Silverado and Sierra models would clearly be beating their crosstown rivals like a drum.
Phil Kling, GM of Canada's director of product PR, says diesel engines are actually playing a smaller role in the full-size pickup market in Canada but points out that the segment is growing so diesel volume is up overall. Unfortunately, GM's share of the diesel market in Canada is also down.
Kling says, ''We're encouraged by what we have seen so far from the Duramax 6.6L engine. Our goal, obviously, is to increase total diesel sales in Canada as well as our share of that market."
The dragstrip experience would suggest that GM of Canada's goal could indeed be realized. Even though it was loaded down with weights to make it match the avoirdupois of comparable diesel entries from Ford and Chrysler, the Duramax Diesel was able to outrun them with ease.
Run the same races at their regular curbweights and the heavy-duty Silverado and Sierra models would clearly be beating their crosstown rivals like a drum.