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Leaked GM document shows GMC Sierra I6 diesel is more powerful than F-150's

GM told us earlier this year that the 2019 GMC Sierra would be getting a 3.0-liter I6 diesel option, but it never mentioned power or fuel economy figures. Hold the phone though, because a leaked GM Canada document just showed up online that lists out the details we've been waiting for. Originally published by TFL Truck, the 3.0-liter oil-burner supposedly makes 282 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. For those who are counting, that's more than the Ford F-150's 250 horsepower and 440 pound-feet from its 3.0-liter diesel. It soundly bests the 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque from Ram's 3.0-liter diesel as well. Fuel economy is another story, though. The promotional material states that it will get 28 mpg on the highway, which is 2 mpg short of the F-150's 30 mpg — mind you, it's only capable of that magical 30 mpg figure in rear-wheel drive form. There's another caveat here, too; these are numbers for Canada, so they're not exactly finalized EPA figures. However, we wouldn't expect drastic differences between the two when the American numbers come out. The leaked documents also state the diesel Sierra will be capable of towing 7,800 pounds. That number seems remarkably low when compared to the F-150, which can tow up to 11,400 pounds with its diesel. Extra power and torque would have us assume that GM could get even better numbers than Ford, so we're going to hold our final judgment for official word. A 10-speed automatic will do the shifting on the diesel, just like on the 6.2-liter V8. Since the Chevy Silverado is also expected to get this engine, we can assume the figures would be almost, if not identical, to those we see here. We recently drove the 2019 Sierra and Silverado without the diesel engines, so go check those reviews out if you'd like to know more of our thoughts on the redesigned GM trucks. Related video:

Recharge Wrap-up: Elio TV ads, Waivecar free EV carsharing

Waivecar is a new carsharing service that allows users two free hours of EV driving. The rentals are paid for with advertising, and each Chevrolet Spark EV in the fleet has an ad board affixed to its roof. So, while the driver enjoys free use of the car, the organizations buying the ads get exposure wherever the user goes. Drivers pay $5.99 per hour past the first two free hours of use. The company is undergoing a three-month trial in Venice Beach and Santa Monica before considering possible expansion. "We're giving to the lower-income people that need cars," says Waivecar CEO Isaac Deutsch. Read more at Green Car Reports. Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller is calling for a reworking of European emissions testing. He feels it is time to adapt the tests so that lab results more closely reflect those of real-world driving. "The industrywide discrepancies between official test results and actual usage is no longer tolerable," says Mueller. "We, the industry, need to take a new path." He also says he will make VW more environmentally friendly, and that the automaker plans to roll out 20 new electric vehicles by 2020. Additionally, Mueller is urging politicians to support the building of charging infrastructure. Read more at Bloomberg Business. Elio Motors has launched its first television ad campaign. The 30- and 60-second spots for the three-wheeled EV are titled "Own The Future," and will air on a variety of cable networks including ESPN, Fox News and National Geographic. "Our grassroots and digital efforts have helped create a strong – almost rabid – enthusiasm for our vehicle," says Elio Motors Founder and CEO Paul Elio. "As our funding situation continues to make progress, we are now in a position to share our message and create more fans through this national advertising campaign." Read more in the press release below. Elio Motors Continues Momentum with Launch of First National Television Advertising Campaign PHOENIX, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Elio Motors (www.eliomotors.com) today announced it has launched its first national television advertising campaign to continue building consumer awareness for the company's three-wheeled vehicle that is expected to get up to 84 MPG and sell for a targeted base price of $6,800. The company, which anticipates production to launch in late 2016, has already gained an enthusiastic following through grass-roots events and digital marketing.

GM to cut production at 5 plants in North America, kill several models

DETROIT/WASHINGTON — General Motors Co said on Monday it will cut production of slow-selling models and slash its North American workforce in the face of a stagnant market for traditional gas-powered sedans, shifting more investment to electric and autonomous vehicles. The announcement is the biggest restructuring in North America for the U.S. No. 1 carmaker since its bankruptcy a decade ago. GM said it will take pre-tax charges of $3 billion to $3.8 billion to pay for the cutbacks, but expects the actions to improve annual free cash flow by $6 billion by the end of 2020. GM plans to halt production next year at three assembly plants: Lordstown, Ohio, Hamtramck, Michigan, and Oshawa, Ontario. The company also plans to stop building several models now assembled at those plants, including the Chevrolet Cruze, the Cadillac CT6 and the Buick LaCrosse, the sources said. Sources said the Chevrolet Volt, Impala and Cadillac XTS would also be discontinued. Signs of the demise of six passenger-car models have been swirling since July. Plants in Baltimore, Maryland, and Warren, Michigan, that assemble powertrain components have no products assigned to them after 2019 and thus are at risk of closure, the company said. It will also close two factories outside North America, but did not identify those plants. The AP reported that 14,700 jobs would be affected. Some 8,100 of those would be white-collar jobs reduced through buyouts or layoffs. The No. 1 U.S. automaker signaled the latest belt-tightening in late October when it offered buyouts to 50,000 salaried employees in North America. The company also said it will cut executive ranks by 25 per cent to "streamline decision making." Some 6,000 factory workers could lose their jobs or be transferred to other plants. Its shares were last up 6.2 percent at $38.16. Tariff 'headwinds' and cost-cutting GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra told reporters on Monday the company can reduce annual capital spending by $1.5 billion and increase investment in electric and autonomous vehicles and connected vehicle technology because it has largely completed investing in new generations of trucks and sport utility vehicles. Some 75 percent of its global sales will come from just five vehicle architectures by early in the 2020s. It plans to reduce annual capital spending to $7 billion by 2020 from an average of $8.5 billion a year during the 2017-2019 period.