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GM's new inline-six Duramax diesel is segment's most powerful, report says

The new light-duty diesel is due this summer for the cost of the gas-powered 6.2-liter V8.

Kyle Hyatt Former news and features editor
Kyle Hyatt (he/him/his) hails originally from the Pacific Northwest, but has long called Los Angeles home. He's had a lifelong obsession with cars and motorcycles (both old and new).
Kyle Hyatt
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GM is coming out swinging against Ford and Ram's lighter-duty diesel engine options.

Nick Miotke/Roadshow

When it comes to passenger cars, diesel may be struggling in America, but in pickup trucks , it continues to thrive.

This is especially true in the half-ton pickup category, where Ford is now offering a V6 PowerStroke diesel and is working on a new diesel that will see service in the Ram 1500 and Jeep Gladiator. What -- you're probably asking yourself -- about GM?

Well, Automotive News reports, GM is coming out of the gate hard with what it's calling the most powerful diesel engine in the category. The folks from GM claim that the 3.0-liter Duramax I6 makes 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. This puts it handily ahead of the Ford unit, which produces 250 hp and 450 lb-ft.

decided not to give us the new diesel's fuel economy numbers, towing capacities or payload, but it will undoubtedly be competitive with the rest of the offerings from the Big Three.

The diesel powertrain option will be available to purchase sometime during the summer of 2019 for the same price as the 6.2-liter gasoline-powered V8 model, despite offering the same torque and more power.

Chevrolet didn't immediately return requests for comment.

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