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Powertrain
Helping to scoot this new 2006 Trailblazer SS along is, as previously
mentioned, a big eight cylinder, six liter engine. The engine used is GM's
new LS2 V8 which is very similar to the engine used in the SSR sport truck
and the new base model C6 Corvette. It utilizes the Gen IV small block
design with a torque friendly pushrod style, camshaft in block engine, with
a 4 inch bore diameter and 3.62 inch stroke. Helping to even out the
horsepower and torque, which is needed to make a sport utility vehicle
powerful and useful, is a composite intake manifold designed specially for
the Trailblazer SS. The air enters this intake manifold by means of a
factory cold air intake with a subtle, yet fully functional air inlet tucked
between the headlight and the turn signal light. This air intake system is
incorporated with the radiator support cover and the special SS engine
cover, so when the hood it open, while the LS2 may not be clearly visible,
there will be no mistaking that the viewer is looking at the massive power
plant of the SS. The 2006 Trailblazer SS features a performance throttle
body which, when coupled with precision electronic throttle control, gives
the driver sharp, quick throttle response. These engine options when added
to the LS2 help the new Trailblazer SS to build a whopping three hundred and
ninety one horsepower, and three hundred and ninety five pound-feet of
torque. Another special feature of this LS2 over the Corvette engine, which
was needed to aid in the sports car handling in an SUV is the special split
style oil pan. The pan has a molded in split which allows the front half
shaft, which drives the wheels in an all wheel drive vehicle, to run
directly to the wheel assembly, without having to raise the engine to a
higher point to allow for clearance under the oil pan. Thus, the engine can
sit lower, straddling the half shaft, and a lower engine means that weight
is set lower to the ground, giving the SS a lower center of gravity, which
improves handling.
While having gobs of horsepower is great, it does not do the driver any good
if it is not sent to the wheels smoothly and efficiently, and to assist in
this, the 2006 Trailblazer SS comes with the all new Hydra-Matic 4L70-E
electronic four speed automatic transmission. This is the debut of this
particular transmission, which was designed specifically for a light duty
truck that would also need to be able to handle the high horsepower and
torque, thanks in part to the heat treated internal components, produced by
the SS. Bolstering the utility and versatility of this new Trailblazer SS
is the new Chevrolet performance all wheel drive system, which offers the
new SS added traction, whether the driver is trying to launch from the line
on a nice day against an unsuspecting sports car, or simply driving to an
important work meeting on a snowy winters day. This system is fundamentally
an all time all wheel drive system and uses a Torsen mid differential to
direct torque to the front or rear wheels, by detecting traction issues.
When the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system detects increased
single wheel speed, it transfers power to varies wheels to keep the
Trailblazer SS header safely in the right direction. While the normal
torque direction is sixty seven percent to the rear wheels with the
remainder to the front, that can be altered in either direction with as much
as seventy five percent at the rear wheels, or as little as fifty five
percent, depending on what the traction control senses the need to be.
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