ATLANTA. General Motors' Fleet and Commercial Operations debuted the all-new, 2009 model Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana 4500 commercial cutaway van here this week at the National Truck Equipment Assn.’s Work Truck Show.
John Gaydash, director of marketing for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations, told FleetOwner the new 4500 model is a Class 4 unit that "fills out the line" for GMC and Chevrolet medium-duty offerings. "The new 4500 chassis brings real choice to Class 4 customers, with great capability, exceptional engineering and numeros best-in-class attributes," he said "And we are the only OEM to offer an emissions-compliant V-8 diesel in this GVW category."
According to Gaydash, the new 4500 chassis was engineered primarily to support the needs of three primary cutaway applications: school buses, shuttle buses and ambulances. He said the Express/Savana 4500's capability is supported by a new, stronger chassis that enables a 14,200-lb. GVW R with lower mass, for a"best-in-class" payload rating of 9,100 lbs.
The new Express/Savana 4500 is offered with a gas V-8 and GM’s 6.6-liter Duramax turbodiesel V-8, which the OEM said offers better fuel economy over larger engines. In addition, pointed out Gaydash, with the new, strong frame and robust powertrains, the Express and Savana 4500 offer up to a 20,000-lb GCWR, "for exceptional towing and RV capability." He noted that each model comes with GM’s five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.
