Well, it appears GM wasn't just bluffing when they were challenging Ford to a pull-off between the new Scorpion-powered Super Duty, and its new 2011 HD trucks powered by the fifth-generation LML 6.6L Duramax. The numbers? Well, the title speaks for itself. A healthy 397 horsepower, and a gob-smacking, pavement-wrinkling 765 lb./ft. of torque. Although that's only a 7 horse edge over the Ford, it's a significant 30 lb./ft. more than the Scorpion's still-substantial 735 lb./ft.

So that only leaves the question...WWDD...What Will Dodge Do? Power upgrades for the 6.7 Cummins have been hinted at for some time, and may come sometime in 2011 or 2012. But for now...all hail the new King.

Press Release Highlights:

Among the 2011 6.6L Duramax turbo diesel’s new and enhanced features are:
    •    Main bearing profiles changed to enhance oil film thickness
    •    Oil pump flow increased for more pressure at low speeds
    •    A revised turbocharger oil circuit for increased pressure at the turbo and faster oil delivery
    •    Connecting rod pin ends modified to provide increased piston support
    •    New, higher-strength piston design
    •    A new 30,000-psi (2,000 bar) piezo-actuated fuel injection system – capable of operating on ASTM grade B20 biodiesel – ensures more precise fuel delivery, improving emission performance
    •    An EGR cooler bypass reduces high-mileage soot deposits in the cooler and EGR circuit (pickup versions only).


The more powerful 6.6L Duramax is also more fuel-efficient – up to 11-percent greater highway fuel economy than the outgoing model – reduces NOx emissions by up to 63 percent and helps enable greater towing ratings. Silverado 3500HD equipped with a fifth wheel hitch can tow up to 20,000 pounds (9,072 kg). The increased fuel efficiency, combined with a new, 36-gallon (136 L) fuel tank, provides up to 680 miles (1,090 km) of highway driving between fill-ups.