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Flex fuelling with the Avalanche
Howard Elmer
The 2007 Avalanche bowed quietly at the Chicago Auto Show this year, and promptly took a backseat to a flashy Craftsman race truck. The low-key entry of the second generation Avalanche was prompted by volatile fuel prices and the media's attention to any vehicle deemed "too large."
Given the uncertain climate for big truck sales, the marketing guys at GM decided to ease the Avalanche into the marketplace, with a ripple instead of a splash. Overshadowing the launch was an announcement by GM on the push for more ethanol production and distribution.
Unfortunately, the fanfare about ethanol diluted GM chairman Bob Lutz's earlier promise to the buying public--that all new GM trucks would average over 20 miles to the gallon (or roughly 12 litres per 100 km). This promise alone, announced last fall in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, is already a sizable step forward on the fuel economy front. Recent developments in ethanol are just a bonus.
The 2007 Chevy Avalanche I drove was equipped with the FlexFuel 5.3-litre V-8. It runs on E85 (an acronym for 85 per cent ethanol); or regular gas. It's been fitted with GM's active fuel management (AFM) system, which incorporates on-demand V-8 power and a V-4 cruising mode.
The new Gen IV small-block V-8--the latest chapter in the small-block's 50-year history--offers more power than previous models. The AFM system is controlled by a computer that constantly monitors the truck's power needs and decides when to shut down four cylinders in low-demand driving, thereby saving gas.
When power demands increase, it automatically switches back to V-8 mode. The transition is seamless and doesn't result in any feeling of engine lag. I watched the instantaneous mode readout in the dashboard display. The display showed the engine switching back and forth, every few seconds sometimes, and I felt nothing. But what owners will feel is the fuel savings--up to 10 per cent a year.
Secure cargo
As for the truck's ability to run on ethanol (the Avalanche is just one of 14 GM models available this year that will run on this biomass fuel made from feedstock such as corn) that's an option open to the owner. It also depends on the availability of E85 fuel. But the FlexFuel 5.3-litre engine costs no more than a non-FlexFuel V-8, so why not have it?
The Avalanche first appeared in 2001 and I remember calling it a full-size transformer toy. The description hinged on the all-new midgate, a folding rear cabin wall that extended the cargo ability of the Avalanche and (in its closed position) maximized its people carrying ability.
This midgate, along with the three-piece hard cargo cover, created multiple conversion options for the truck. As a result, it was pretty much a hit for GM right out of the gate. The fold-down rear 60/40 bench seat adds cargo space on its own, but with the midgate lowered, the fully extended cargo box is over eight feet in length.
If the window and cargo cover is left in place, everything is still weather protected, but if needed, the window pops out. When the cover is off, taller items are easily carried.
There are also two lockable top-box storage lockers, one on either side of the truck, which are ideal for tools or emergency road items. The tailgate and the three-piece cargo cover are also lockable this year, for the first time. Lock and unlock are handled with a push of the keyless entry remote
As for its similarity to a transformer toy, that hasn't changed. But thankfully, the Star Wars-like plastic battle cladding has gone the way of parachute pants. The new look is as straight-forward as a hard right to the chin--clean lines with a bold face.
This "new" look first saw the light of day on the redesigned Chevy Tahoe last fall and has been adopted pretty much across the model line. But under the tin, the Avalanche also shares the new frame, wheelbase and safety features of the Tahoe.
Enhanced safety features
The new truck has a fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. Wider front and rear tracks enhance handling and lower the center of gravity for a more confident road feel. A more steeply raked windshield and smoother roofline improve the aerodynamics of the Avalanche, which in turn, enhance fuel economy on the highway.
Additional contributors to efficiency include a lower, wider front air dam, tighter tolerances and gaps between the fascias, lamps and grille openings, and improved front-end sealing that eliminates most air leak paths. These features all result in better fuel economy and sound damping.
The Avalanche front end reflects its sporty, outdoor character. It has a fast-rake windshield; a bulging power dome hood; a prominent new fender design, with integrated wheel flares; a distinctive new grille and headlamps; and a full-wrap fascia. The fascia eliminates the conventional bumper-to-body gap.
The new truck also benefits from the addition of head curtain side-impact air bags with a roll-over sensor. The safety measure works in tandem with GM's StabiliTrak system, which continuously monitors steering angle, wheel speeds, brake pressure and lateral acceleration.
The Avalanche also has four-wheel anti-lock brakes, refined crumple zones on its body and frame, and AutoTrac 4X4, which has an auto mode setting that adjusts to changing conditions.
This 4WD system locks the rear differential to get it moving if wheel slippage occurs, but the system also has manual 2WD, 4WDlock and 4WDlock low-range settings. These selectable ranges will be useful down at the boat launch as this truck is rated to tow up to 3,720 kg (8,200 lbs.).
Bring on the ethanol
Canadian federal and provincial leaders just held a summit in Regina where they agreed to work towards a mandatory content of five per cent ethanol in every litre of gasoline sold in Canada by the start of 2007. The Environment Minister, Rona Ambrose, claims this five per cent standard will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5.6 tonnes per year by 2010.
But, when I went looking for E85 fuel--a blend of 85 per cent alcohol and 15 per cent gasoline--I discovered only one station in the entire country carried it (Ottawa).
"We are building consensus between the provinces and the federal government, on the subject of ethanol and that is already a big step forward," said Ryan Sparrow, press secretary and spokesperson for Environment Minister Ambrose, when I asked him about the paucity of ethanol stations.
"At the moment there is no national standard for ethanol implementation," said Sparrow. Instead he suggested the victory was in having all the players in government on the side of ethanol, for the first time, and that in the "months and years ahead," policies would emerge.
Still, today in 2007, Detroit can build an E85 car or truck for the same price as a non-E85 vehicle and that at least means when this fuel finally comes on line in Canada you'll already have a truck that can use it. car
Howard Elmer is a Brampton, Ont.-based automotive writer.
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