Vehicle model: 2009 Hummer H3T
Base price: TBA
Engine type: 3.7L I-5
Valvetrain: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Aspiration: Natural
Mfg.’s hp @ rpm: 242 @ 5,600
Mfg.’s torque (lb-ft) @ rpm: 242 @ 4,600
Transmission: MA5 five-speed manual
Axle ratio: 4.56
Suspension (f/r): Independent SLA with torsion bar, stabilizer bar/Hotckiss leaf spring, stabilizer bar
Steering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinion
Brakes (f/r): 12.4-inch disc/12.3-inch disc with four-wheel ABS
Wheels/Tires: P265/75R16 Bridgestone Dueler
Wheelbase (in): 134
Length (in): 211.9
Width (in): 85.5
Height (in): 72.2
Track (in): 65/65.5
Curb Weight (lb): TBA
Ground clearance f/r (in): 9.1
Approach (deg): 37.5
Departure (deg): 28.0
Max Towing capacity (lb): 4,400, 5,900 (V-8)
Fuel capacity (gal): 27
EPA mileage estimates (mpg): TBA
Seating capacity: 5

While GM tries to keep itself in business, it’s also trying to launch a new set of hybrid pickupsfor the 2009 model year. Soon, GM will be letting journalists–including the car review experts at TheCarConnection.com–to drive the 2009 Chevrolet SilveradoHybrid.

GM says the new Hybridedition of the full-size pickup truck will be 40 percent more fuel-efficient in city fuel economy and 25 percent better in highway mileage.

The Silverado Hybrid will come in the four-door Crew Cab body, in either rear- or four-wheel drive. Outfitted with a 6.0-liter V-8 engine and GM’s version of the two-modehybrid system shared with the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, the Silverado Hybrid will be capable of 500 miles of driving range. It will also be able to run on electric power alone, gasoline power alone or a combination of the two. GM’s Silverado Hybridpickup will also have cylinder deactivation technology, which turns off half the V-8’s cylinders to save fuel when it’s running under light engine loads. Chevrolet’s sister brand GMC will also get a hybrid version of their Sierra pickup.

Dual front and curtain airbags and stability control will be standard on the SilveradoHybrid. Minor aerodynamic tweaks help the Hybrid’s fuel economy; its battery pack is located behind the rear seats.

TheCarConnection.com will be driving the new Silverado Hybrid this month, with a full review yet to come. Stay tuned–in the meantime, find out more about the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado here at ChevyTruckReports.com, including extensive photos and pricing information.

There are three main engine choices in the 2009 Ford F-150 lineup, all of them V8s: a 4.6-liter that makes 248 horsepower and 293 pound-feet of torque, a higher-output 4.6 with 292 hp and 320 lb-ft and a 5.4-liter unit with 320 hp and 390 lb-ft. The base 4.6 is paired to a four-speed automatic transmission, while the high-output 4.6 and 5.4 are mated to a six-speed automatic. The brakes have a soft feel about them, but stopping distances are quite good. In instrumented testing, we stopped a four-wheel-drive Super Crew from 60 mph in an impressive 127 feet.

As expected, buyers have a choice between two- and four-wheel drive on all versions of the F-150. When it comes to working capacity, the F-150 can’t be beat — on paper, at least. Properly equipped, an F-150 with the 5.4-liter V8 can tow up to 11,300 pounds and carry a 3,030-pound payload. In practice, however, the F-150 struggles to keep up with more powerful rivals in towing and hauling tests, particularly when going up grades.

Fuel mileage can be as high as 15 mpg city/21 mpg highway and 17 mpg combined for an F-150 2WD SuperCrew with the SFE (superior fuel economy) package. A more typical 4WD SuperCrew with the 5.4-liter V8 gets EPA estimates of 14/18/15