Is GM missing the Boat

hpdrver wrote:
Unfortunately, the Ford Transit does not now have the gvwr or power specs to match the Mercedes or replace the E450 chassis. Maybe in the future it may be able to match the sprinter in gvwr and gvcr but not now.

Sprinter weights:
GVWR: 11,030 lbs
Max Payload: 6,400 lbs

Transit weights:
Maximum GVWR 10,360 lbs.
Maximum Payload 6020lbs.

Towing: Sprinter and Transit have the same "tow rating" of the bare chassis. But the Sprinter gets an extra 1,750 in GCWR, so effectively if can tow more behind a loaded RV.

Sprinter Power: (both diesel)
Displacement: 2.1L
Horsepower: 161 hp at 3800 rpm
Torque: 265 lb-ft
-or-
Displacement: 3.0 Liters (rumor is this engine is on hold for emissions recertification)
Horsepower 188 Hp
Horsepower rpm 3,800
Torque 325 Lb-Ft.

Transit Power
Engine type 3.7L gas
Horsepower 275 @ 6000
Torque (lb.-ft.) 260 @ 4000
-or-
Engine type 3.7L Ti-VCT V6
Horsepower (SAE net@rpm) 185 @ 3000
Torque (lb.-ft.) 350 @ 1500 - 2500

Transit Diesel has about the same HP but Torque than even the "big" MB diesel. Of course the EcoBoost is the king of power, but that's only available in Class B vans, no cutaways.

E450 is a completely different class. Neither the Sprinter or Transit are trying to compete in that class.

Oh yeah, there are Transits everywhere on the roads already. I find it a bit surprising given how new they are. I'm talking commercial vans, not RVs.

GM missed the boat several years ago. While Ford/Dodge/Merc were introducing the new modern platforms and ditching the older technology, GM sat around and did......nothing.

Next time you go out for a drive count the number of Transits and Dodge Rams that are out there. They dominate the market segment. It won;t be long before the Transit (with Dodge as a distant 2nd) will dominate the smaller class C market.

It's going to be tough for GM to dominate - they have to play catch-up for a number of years unless they introduce something which is much superior.

hpdrver wrote:
Unfortunately, the Ford Transit does not now have the gvwr or power specs to match the Mercedes or replace the E450 chassis. Maybe in the future it may be able to match the sprinter in gvwr and gvcr but not now. Mercedes is currently expanding its Sprinter facility in South Carolina to handle increased demand.

Someone sees a market in this segment and it's not GM or Ford.

The Transit is a lot closer in GVWR to the Sprinter (670 pounds difference) than either one is to the E-450 (3470 / 4140 pounds difference).

For completeness, he Ram ProMaster has a significantly lower GVWR (1460 pouns less than the transit), and the GM/Chevy van chassis is rated 300 pounds less than the E-450. In all cases, these are the maximum available GVWRs.

Unfortunately, the Ford Transit does not now have the gvwr or power specs to match the Mercedes or replace the E450 chassis. Maybe in the future it may be able to match the sprinter in gvwr and gvcr but not now. Mercedes is currently expanding its Sprinter facility in South Carolina to handle increased demand.

Someone sees a market in this segment and it's not GM or Ford.

They have also talked about using the Opel Movano.

The Transit is the one that is going to take market share from Mercedes.

hpdrver wrote:
Currently, the Mercedes Sprinter chassis dominates the small class C market because it is the only diesel chassis available.

Ford offers the 3.2L turbo-diesel in the Transit cutaway chassis.

PS - GM has stated next year's Express/Savanna chassis will be offered with the baby diesel from the Colorado. But that chassis may also grow a little when it switches over a shared Navistar product, so that might not leave any extra capacity for towing.

hpdrver wrote:
Currently, the Mercedes Sprinter chassis dominates the small class C market because it is the only diesel chassis available.

Does anyone think GM will do this.

No, because when the tried and true Ford Transit diesel chassis catches on it will dominate that market segment the way the venerable E Series has.