2009 Tahoe

Overviews

For Release: June 9, 2008

2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE

New for 2009

Model Lineup

 

Engines

Transmissions

 

Vortec 4.8L V-8 (LY2)

Vortec
5.3L V-8 (LY5/LMG)

Vortec 5.3L V-8 (LC9)

Vortec 6.2L V-8
(L9H)

4-spd auto
(Hydra-Matic 4L60)

6-spd auto
(Hydra-Matic 6L80)

Tahoe 2WD

s*

s**

o

o (LTZ)

s (4.8L)

s (5.3L & 6.2L)

Tahoe 4WD

–

–

s

o (LTZ)

–

s

*base model only
** opt. on base model

Key  

Standard

s

Optional

o

Not Available

–

2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE OFFERS NEW FUEL-SAVING SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND BLUETOOTH WIRELESS PHONE CONNECTION

As the industry’s best-selling full-size SUV, Chevrolet Tahoe continues to offer great spaciousness and towing capability with a precise driving feel, robust performance and impeccable interior refinement and quietness. It also delivers the segment’s best fuel mileage – a standing that is solidified in 2009 with the introduction of a new, six-speed automatic transmission.

The new Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed is standard on models with the Vortec 5.3L V-8 and a new 6.2L V-8. It enhances real world fuel economy on the highway via reduced engine speed, as the engine requires less fuel to operate at a lower “cruising” speed. Also, quietness in the interior is enhanced with the lower-rpm cruising.

“We’re continually improving the Tahoe and the new six-speed automatic is a great example,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “It improves fuel economy while delivering a high-quality feel that bolsters the Tahoe’s overall feeling of quality.”

For the ultimate full-size SUV fuel economy, customers can select the Tahoe Hybrid. It employs GM’s patented two-mode hybrid system to deliver a 50-percent improved fuel mileage in city driving. Please see the separate Tahoe Hybrid release for complete details.

A Vortec 6.2L is new for 2009, too, and is offered on LTZ models. It features a lightweight aluminum block and variable valve timing; and it is the most powerful engine in the Tahoe’s lineup. It is rated at 395 horsepower (295 kW) with 417 lb.-ft. of torque (565 Nm).

Tahoe lineup

All Tahoe models are built on GM’s full-size SUV platform that incorporates features such as a fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and a premium interior that bolsters the vehicle’s comfort, quality and capability. Wide front and rear tracks enhance handling and lower the center of gravity for a more confident road feel.

The Tahoe is available in LS, LT, LTZ and Hybrid models, with 2WD and 4WD.

New for 2009

In addition to the new six-speed automatic transmission and the 6.2L V-8, numerous new features and revisions across the lineup gives customers more choices. They include:

Additionally, there are several changes to existing models and content packages, including:

Z71 Off Road package

The popular Z71 Off Road appearance package returns for 2009. It includes the Z71 Off Road suspension with high-pressure, gas-charged monotube shocks, 18-inch on/off-road tires, automatic-locking rear differential, front recovery hooks, a durable skid plate and a high-capacity air cleaner. Large, color-keyed fender flares, an aggressive front fascia and satin chrome tubular assist steps, and bright chrome front grille insert provide a distinctive appearance.

Inside, a brushed metal-look replaces wood grain accents for a more rugged appearance. Also included are leather-appointed bucket seats that are available in solid Ebony, Cashmere or Titanium.

Tahoe design

The Tahoe’s design is lean and agile looking, with large wheels and a wide track enhancing Tahoe’s powerful, capable stance. Sleek aerodynamics contribute to the look, with a steeply raked windshield and smooth roofline that enhances aerodynamics.

Tahoe features the global face of Chevrolet with a large Chevy gold bowtie, centered on a twin-port horizontal grille. The body-color grille surround is inset with an argent texture or available chrome mesh. Fog lamps and headlamps feature jewel-like optics. The lower fascia, incorporating the front license plate holder and integrated recovery hooks, is aggressively styled with a skid plate look that enhances Tahoe’s rugged, off-road appearance.

Also complementing Tahoe’s sporty appearance is an assortment of 17-inch and 20-inch wheels. Seventeen-inch wheels and tires are standard, with 20-inch factory-installed wheels available (standard on LTZ). The larger wheels give the vehicle a more confident stance.

Tahoe also offers power articulated running boards on LTZ models. They blend smoothly with the vehicle’s design, but automatically move downward and outward when the doors are opened, providing a lower step-in height.

Numerous Chevy Accessories are available for Tahoe.

Interior refinement

The Tahoe is available in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ, with the high-volume LT trim level offered with 1LT and 2LT equipment groups; 2WD and 4WD models are available. All models come well equipped with enhanced safety, comfort and convenience features. Available features include:

Refinement throughout Tahoe’s spacious interior creates an environment that exudes quality and precision, as well as comfort. A two-tone color scheme offers softer and low-gloss materials for the instrument panel and other trim pieces.

Additional details include LED backlighting for the instruments and chrome accents on instruments and vents. Flush-mounted accessories and controls, such as the climate control/radio center stack, create a seamless, “single unit” appearance. Also, there are almost no exposed metal hardware or latches, as all models feature enclosing “close-outs” around the seat bottoms and door sill trim plates.

Smoothness and quietness

Tahoe features a stiff, fully boxed frame, which reduces vibrations transmitted to the passenger cabin. The strength and accuracy of the frame also enable more precise mounting and tuning of chassis and suspension components, which also help reduce vibration. Even the tires on the large, 17-inch standard and 20-inch available wheels were designed to reduce noise.

Noise-reducing components and materials are used throughout the body structure, including the headliner material, door seals and front-of-dash area. The engine also features a quiet-tuned alternator and an acoustically tuned engine cover that dramatically reduces engine noise heard inside the vehicle. Specific door seals help reduce seal “pull away” at highway speeds, which can cause wind noise. Also, Tahoe’s slippery shape, including streamlined exterior mirrors and roof rack, and tighter body gap tolerances, makes Tahoe quieter as it slices through the air.

Tahoe’s quietness and smoothness are complemented by the Autoride suspension system, which is standard on LTZ. This segment-exclusive bi-state, real-time damping system provides an extremely refined ride with greatly reduced body motion. The system consists of a semi-active, two-position damping control system that responds in real time to road and driving conditions, based on body and wheel motion sensors.

Powertrains

A small-block V-8 family powers the Tahoe lineup. Fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology also enables better fuel economy. When combined with other vehicle-wide features, including improved aerodynamics, the small-block V-8 helps give the Tahoe the segment’s best fuel economy.

A Vortec 5.3L V-8 with 320 horsepower (239 kW)* and 340 lb.-ft. of torque (461 Nm)* offering Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability is standard in 4WD models. A Vortec 4.8L V-8 is standard on Tahoe 2WD base models.

Available on Tahoe LTZ is an all-aluminum 6.2L V-8 with variable valve timing (VVT). It is rated at 395 horsepower (295 kW).* VVT helps optimize camshaft timing to improve low-rpm torque and high-rpm horsepower. The system is enabled by a unique cam phaser that adjusts the camshaft timing at the same rate for both the intake and exhaust valves.

The Tahoe’s transmissions deliver a balance between effortless capability and efficiency. They include a four-speed automatic with the 2WD base model’s 4.8L engine and a new, fuel-saving six-speed automatic with the 5.3L and 6.2L engines.

Safety and security

The Tahoe features a 360-degree perimeter safety system of occupant protection and crash avoidance technologies. Standard features include head curtain side air bags with rollover protection for all seating rows and front-seat safety belt pretensioners that are linked to the vehicle's sensing system to provide segment-exclusive deployment in rear-end crashes.

The roof-mounted head curtain air bags include design features that provide increased rollover protection and occupant containment. These head curtain side air bags stay inflated longer than air bags developed only for side impacts, since rollover incidents can last longer. The deployment duration and other design features of the air bags combine to provide increased occupant protection and the ability to help keep occupants inside the vehicle. Sensors located at the front of the vehicle, in the side doors and within the occupant compartment provide increased and more immediate crash detection.

Crash avoidance is bolstered through enhanced design and driver control dynamics, such as wider front and rear tracks, as well as more responsive suspensions – including a new coil-over-shock front suspension design and new rack-and-pinion steering. The vehicles are built on a stronger and stiffer, fully boxed frame that contributes to enhanced crash energy management. The front frame section has been designed to optimize crush progression, resulting in improved energy absorption efficiency. The improved crush performance, enabled by hydroformed frame rails and efficient chassis component packaging, also comprehends design provisions for improved vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility in the event of a frontal impact with a smaller vehicle.

Additional safety and security features include:

All models come with the OnStar system. The system includes the Advanced Crash Response System system, making crash data available to emergency services to potentially dispatch the appropriate life-saving personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster. If the vehicle is in a crash that activates an air bag, the OnStar system automatically notifies an OnStar advisor, who will check on the occupants or summon emergency help if necessary.

*SAE certified.

# # #

Contact:
Brian Goebel
Chevrolet Communications
Phone: 313-665-8049
E-mail: brian.goebel@gm.com

Kelly Wysocki
Product Development Communications
Phone: 586-492-0122
E-mail: kelly.wysocki@gm.com

Antonio Sanchez Jimenez
Gerente de Relaciones Públicas y Comunicación
General Motors de Mexico
Office: 011-5255-5901-3042
E-mail: angelantonio.sanchezjimenez@gm.com

SPECIFICATIONS

Overview

Models:

Chevrolet Tahoe LS, LT, LTZ and Hybrid

Body style / driveline:

4-door sport utility vehicle, front-engine, 2- or 4-wheel drive, half-ton models

Construction:

body on frame

EPA vehicle class:

full-size sport utility vehicle

Manufacturing locations:

Janesville, Wis. and Arlington, Texas

Key competitors:

Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia

Engines

 

Vortec 4.8L V-8 (LY2)
Vortec 5.3L V-8 (LY5, LMG)
Vortec 5.3L V-8 (LC9)

Vortec 6.2L V-8 (L9H)

Type:

4.8L V-8

5.3L V-8

5.3L V-8

6.2L V-8

Displacement
(cu in / cc):

293 / 4807

325/ 5328

325 / 5328

376 / 6162

Bore & stroke
(in / mm):

3.78 x 3.27 / 96.01 x 83

3.78 x 3.62 / 96 x 92

3.78 x 3.62 / 96 x 92

4.06 x 3.62 / 103.25 x 92

Block material:

cast iron

cast iron

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

Cylinder head material:

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

cast aluminum

Valvetrain:

overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder

overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder

overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder

overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder, variable valve timing

Ignition system:

coil near plug ignition, iridium electrode tip/ iridium core spark plugs, low resistance spark plug wires

coil-near-plug ignition, iridium electrode tip/ iridium core spark plugs, low resistance spark plug wires

coil-near-plug ignition, iridium electrode tip/ iridium core spark plugs, low resistance spark plug wires

coil-near-plug ignition, iridium electrode tip/ iridium core spark plugs, low resistance spark plug wires

Fuel delivery:

sequential fuel injection

Active Fuel Management™ technology; sequential fuel injection

Active Fuel Management™ technology; sequential fuel injection

sequential fuel injection

Compression ratio:

9.1:1

9.9:1

9.9:1

10.5:1

Horsepower
(hp/ kW @ rpm):

295 / 220 @ 5600*

320 / 239 @ 5200*

320 / 239 @ 5200*

395 / 295 @ 5600*

Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm):

305 / 414 @ 4800*

340 / 461 @ 4200*

340 / 461 @ 4200*

417 / 565@ 4300*

Fuel:

regular unleaded

regular unleaded (LY5), E85-capable (LMG)

regular unleaded

premium recommended, but not required; E-85-capable

Maximum engine speed (rpm):

6000

6000

6000

6000

Emissions controls:

close-coupled catalytic converter, Quick Sync 58X ignition, returnless fuel rail, fast-response O² sensor

close-coupled catalytic converter, Quick Sync 58X ignition, returnless fuel rail, fast-response O² sensor

close-coupled catalytic converter, Quick Sync 58X ignition, returnless fuel rail, fast-response O² sensor

close-coupled catalytic converter, Quick Sync 58X ignition, returnless fuel rail, fast-response O² sensor

EPA estimated fuel economy (city / hwy):

TBD

 

TBD

TBD

TBD

Transmissions

Type:

Hydra-Matic 4L60, 4-speed automatic

Hydra-Matic 6L80, 6-speed automatic

Gear ratios (:1):

 

 

First:

3.06

4.03

Second:

1.63

2.36

Third:

1.00

1.53

Fourth:

0.70

1.15

Fifth:

--

0.85

Sixth:

--

0.67

Reverse:

2.29

3.06

Final drive ratio:

4.8L: 3.23:1(std.), 3.73:1 (opt.)

5.3L: 3.08 (std.); 3.42 (opt.)
6.2L: 3.42

Chassis/Suspension

Front:

Independent, coil over shock; Autoride real-time damping (opt.)

Rear:

five-link with coil springs

Traction assist:

all-speed traction control

Steering type:

power-assisted rack-and-pinion

Steering ratio:

17.75:1

Steering wheel turns, lock-to-lock:

3

Turning circle, curb-to-curb (ft / m):

39.04 / 11.9

Brakes

Type:

4-wheel disc, 4-wheel ABS

Rotor diameter x thickness (in / mm):

front: 13 x 1.18 / 330.2 x 30
rear: 13.5 x .787 / 345 x 20

Wheels/Tires

Wheel size and type:

17 x 7.5-inch steel (fleet, Police Pursuit)

 

17 x 7.5-inch machined cast aluminum, silver sparkle accent (LS, LT)

 

18 x 8.0-inch polished aluminum (Z71 package)

 

20 x 8.5-inch polished aluminum (opt. LT, std. LTZ)

Tires:

P265/70R17 blackwall Bridgestone AL2 (all-season) steel belt radials;

 

P265/70R17 white letter Goodyear AL2 (all-season) steel belt radials;

 

P265/70R17 blackwall Bridgestone OOR (on-off-road) steel belt radials (export only)

 

P265/60R17 blackwall Goodyear AL3 (higher performance) steel belt radials (Police Pursuit)

 

P265/65R18 blackwall Bridgestone OOR (on-off-road) steel belt radials (Z71 package)

 

P265/65R18 blackwall Bridgestone AL2 (all-season) steel belt radials (export only)

 

P275/55R20 blackwall Bridgestone AL2 (all-season) steel belt radials

Dimensions
Exterior

Wheelbase (in / mm):

116 / 2946

Overall length (in / mm):

202.0 / 5129.9

Overall width (in / mm):

79.0 / 2007.0

Overall height (in / mm):

2WD: 76.9 / 1954.4 4WD: 77 / 1955.3

Track (in / mm):

front: 68.2 / 1731.8
rear: 67.0 / 1701.8

Minimum ground clearance (in / mm):

9 / 228.8

Step-in height (in / mm):

2WD: 21.8 / 553.1 4WD: 22 / 557.9

Ground to top of load floor (in / mm):

2WD: 31.7 / 804.6
4WD: 31.6 / 802.1

Approach angle (deg):

17

Departure angle (deg):

21.9

Curb weight (lb / kg):

2WD: 5262 / 2387 (4.8L)
4WD: 5560 / 2522 (5.3L)

Weight distribution (% front / rear):

2WD & 4WD: 52 / 48

Interior

 

First Row

Second Row

Third Row

Seating capacity (9 max):

2 / 3

2 / 3

2 / 3

Headroom (in / mm):

41.1 / 1043.2

38.5 / 978.0

38.2 / 971.3

Legroom (in / mm):

41.3 / 1048.9

39.0 / 990.8

25.4 / 644.2

Shoulder room (in / mm):

65.3 / 1657.9

65.3 / 1657.4

61.7 / 1566.1

Hip room (in / mm):

64.4 / 1636.7

60.6 / 1538.9

49.1 / 1246.5

Cargo volume (cu ft / L):

 

 

 

Behind 1 st row, 2 nd row folded no third row

108.9 / 3084

 

 

Behind 2 nd row no third row

 

60.3 / 1707.7

 

Behind 3 rd row

 

 

16.9 / 478.6

Note: 3-passenger bench and 2-passenger bucket seats standard or optional depending on the model.

Capacities

EPA interior volume (cu ft / L):

108.9 / 3084

GVWR: (lb / kg):

2WD: 7100 / 3220
4WD: 7300 / 3311

Payload, base (lb / kg):

2WD: 1838 / 833 (4.8L)
4WD: 1741 / 790 (5.3L)

Trailer towing maximum (lb / kg):

2WD: 8400 / 3810 (5.3L with HD towing pkg.)
4WD: 8200 / 3720 (5.3L with HD towing pkg.)

Fuel tank (gal / L):

2WD & 4WD: 26 / 98

Engine oil (qt / L):

6 / 5.7

Cooling system (qt / L):

4.8L: 14.4 / 13.6; 5.3L: 16.8 / 15.9; 6.2L: TBD

*SAE certified.
Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.

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