Does GM have it backwards?

To what BenK says, the 6.2L is more of a "play" engine, where you mash the skinny pedal to the floor and it puts a smile on your face, while the 6.6L is a "work" engine, designed to run under heavy loads day in and day out.

If GM were confident that the 6.2L engine would hold up in a work truck, they would be putting it in the work trucks. As it is, they are depending on most customers only buying it for bragging rights, and never really using the engine that hard.

Another example: 3.5L Ford EcoBoost makes 365 HP in under 8500 GVW applications (F150, Taurus Explorer). Or more with the newer high-trim trucks. But the Transit, which most body configurations are over 8500, it's dialed back to 310 HP.

6.4 Hemi in a car makes almost 100hp more than the truck engine too.

Bowti wrote:
2019 Silverado 1500 offers a 6.2 with 420 HP and 460 lbs-ft of torque and 10 spd trans. The 2020 Silverado 2500 rumored to offer a 6.6 with 400 HP and 450 lbs-ft of torque and 6 spd trans. Shouldn't it be the other way around for these gas engines?

Class 2A(aka. half ton) trucks have different emission certifications and duty cycles of class 2B (3/4 ton) and up trucks. Same holds true for pick ups versus cab and chassis trucks. This is why the power ratings on class 2A trucks are generally higher than those of class 2b and above. Most people only think it is due to duty cycle, but that is a smaller part of it compared to emissions requirements.

Prime example is the Ford 6.2L engines. In the F150 it made 411 hp, but in the 3/4 and up trucks it was de-tuned to make 385 hp. Another example would be diesels. A 6.7L in a SD pickup makes 440 hp, but due to different emissions certifications the cab and chassis 6.7L makes only 330 hp.

Duty Cycle

If you don't know what is...look it up

Basically...normal usage will have most anything do...while a 'work' or a 'HD' usage will require much more stout everything (frame, suspension, tires, wheels, drive train, etc, etc, etc) and why so many won't buy next higher class over a 'half ton' because of their main concern: "ride quality", of which higher class trucks will NOT have as good a ride quality

A lower/lowest class pickup will NOT last long with it's lower Duty Cycle design. There is a fake half ton that is almost a 3/4 ton and is offered in very, very small numbers for those who really should have a higher class pickup, but insist on a 'half ton'...

The 6.6 will be able to offer its hp all day long and in more extreme conditions.

I agree that the HD truck could sure use more gears. Maybe they’ll offer the 10-speed Allison as an option someday?