Report: Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon midsize pickup trucks to get diesel engines

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Diesel

Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon teaser

The market for midsize pickup trucks has all but been abandoned in the US, but General Motors is about to shake the market up with the all-new (to the US) Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Launching next year, GM already told us that its new trucks would be a “fuel-efficient alternative” to fullsize trucks, and aside from the smaller size, Automotive News says that these trucks will accomplish this with a diesel engine.

According to the AN report, the next-gen Colorado and Canyon will offer a small, four-cylinder Duramax turbo diesel with a displacement of either 2.5 or 2.8 liters – both engines are currently used in this truck for other markets. This would allow GM to join the Cummins-powered Nissan Titan and Ram 1500 EcoDiesel as the only non-HD trucks in the US to offer diesel. The article goes on to say that the diesel versions of the Colorado and Canyon would launch about a year after the trucks go into production in fall of 2014.

Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon midsize pickup trucks to get diesel engines originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Aug 2013 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Teased: GM renders new Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon pickups

Filed under: Budget, Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

Chevy Colorado GMC Canyon teaser - hood renderings

At a series of industry seminars in Traverse City, MI today, General Motors executive vice president Dan Ammann gifted us with our first glimpse of the upcoming midsize pickup range from Chevrolet and GMC.

Just two slivers of nose are all we can see of the soon-to-be announced Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon, though the teaser image does make plain that the pair will follow the styling cues (at least up front) found on big brothers Silverado and Sierra.

GM hasn’t given us much in the way of detail in its ultra-brief press release that accompanied the teaser image, which is to be expected. We’re told only that the pair of trucks are designed to be “capable, versatile and fuel-efficient alternatives to full-size pickups” and that production will start sometime in 2014, at the Wentzville, MO assembly center.

You know how these things go though: a teaser leads to a leak, which leads to us knowing nearly everything before the small trucks have their sheets pulled at auto show. The Detroit Auto Show and Chicago Auto Show appear to be the leading venues for the models’ debut. Stay tuned.

Continue reading GM renders new Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon pickups

GM renders new Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon pickups originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Aug 2013 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2014 GMC Sierra [w/video]

Filed under: Truck, GMC, New Car Reviews

Big And Boxy Might Be Best

2014 GMC Sierra

As immense fans of the Back to the Future trilogy, we sometimes like to envision an alternate timeline in which General Motors had killed off GMC and kept Pontiac instead. The G8 GXP would still be on the road handily beating German sport sedans costing twice as much, while the lowly G3 would morph into a true subcompact-killer based on what is now the Chevrolet Sonic RS. While we’re at it, let’s go ahead and imagine the G6 has become the best-selling car in the US and the Torrent crossover is selling 20,000+ units per month. Far-fetched, we know.

The thing is, these fanciful statements would have to be true to make the case against keeping GMC. Pontiac may have offered more excitement than GMC, but money talks, and a full line of trucks, crossovers and SUVs have made a lot more money for GM than the arrowhead brand ever did. How much? As we learned last month, about two-thirds of GM’s global profits came from its fullsize trucks, and GMC’s trucks typically have thicker margins than their Chevrolet counterparts.

So rather than reviewing the latest Pontiac G8 ST, here we are driving the new 2014 GMC Sierra 1500. During our first drives of both the 2014 Chevy Silverado and 2014 Sierra, it was immediately clear that these trucks are the best they’ve ever been in their 54-year histories, but to see how GM’s new trucks stack up against the likes of the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan, we were looking forward to spending a whole week with a fully loaded Sierra SLT Z71 for this review. Sadly, our time with the Sierra was cut short as it had an unexpected date with a flatbed and a trip to the dealership.

Continue reading 2014 GMC Sierra [w/video]

2014 GMC Sierra [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jul 2013 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6 nets 18 mpg city, 24 highway

Filed under: Truck, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2014 Chevy Silverado towing Summerland camper

There is no doubting that fuel economy has become an important factor in the highly competitive fullsize truck market, with the Ford F-150 EcoBoost V6 and Pentastar V6-powered Ram 1500 setting quite a precedent in recent years. Now it’s General Motors’ turn. The General has just announced that the new base V6 used in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 models will return an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway in two-wheel drive trim, regardless of cab configuration.

While these figures don’t go so far as to earn GM any “best-in-class” fuel economy claims (thanks to the 25-mpg Ram 1500 HFE), this new 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 does edge the F-150 and Toyota Tundra while boasting best-in-class numbers for torque, payload and towing capacity among six-cylinder rivals. This all-new engine produces 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque, and it gives the 2014 Silverado and Sierra the highest towing rating among standard V6 models with a 7,200-pound towing capacity – besting the Ram by 700 pounds, the base F-150 by 1,100 pounds and coming within 200 pounds of the V8-powered Nissan Titan. Scroll down for the official press releases from Chevrolet and GMC.

Continue reading Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6 nets 18 mpg city, 24 highway

Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6 nets 18 mpg city, 24 highway originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: 2014 Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra full configurators truck in

Filed under: Truck, Etc., Work, Chevrolet, GMC

You can now put prices to your wildest option-sheet dreams of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. A microsite for the full-size pickup truck twins has been up since January, and now the full-blown configurator is live and ready to take your virtual orders. The only two chassis configurations available at the moment are the Crew Cab with either a short or standard bed – Regular and Double Cab versions will come later. In Silverado flavors that will run you $32,710 for the short box, $33,010 for the standard box, while the Sierra adds a $1,500 premium to both of those prices, and destination and handling for both models adds another $995.

Since these are American pickups the list of modifications is lengthy, but we added $11,450 in just two steps by starting with the Silverado Crew Cab and standard bed, then checking four-wheel drive and the LTZ Z71 package. Our final truck, resplendent in Brownstone Metallic paint, heated and cooled Cocoa/Dune perforated leather seating and tasty details like chrome recovery hooks, and engine block heater and LED cargo box lighting, rang up $57,285 at the candy store.

They’ll be on dealer lots sometime this summer, so now’s a good time to start practicing your box-checking.

2014 Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra full configurators truck in originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GMC to go further upscale?

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, GMC

2011 gmc acadia denali

2011 GMC Acadia Denali – Click above for high-res image gallery

Despite sharing a lot of dirty bits underneath, General Motors has done a commendable job lately of differentiating GMC and Chevrolet. Look at the Equinox and Terrain or the Acadia and Traverse as proof. Both pairs of vehicles share the same underpinnings, yet each have their own look. That’s a definite improvement over prior efforts, and Automotive News is reporting that GM may go further in the future.

Mark Reuss, GM President in North America, tells AN that GM’s two-brand approach to trucks needs to be better executed in the future. The high-level exec adds that the similarities in price between the two brands often leads to identical incentives, which has in turn led to the dilution of the GMC brand.

One way to further differentiate GMC is to head upscale, and the Professional Grade has its successful Denali trim range to help make that happen. “I think we can do premium Chevrolets, and take GMC and move it even further up,” says Reuss. If GMC were to use Denali to increase luxury sales, the brand would have to incorporate the badging on a lot more vehicles. Right now the Denali brand is limited to Sierra, Yukon and Acadia variants, but a Terrain variant has been spotted testing.

GMC to go further upscale? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet MyLink comes to Buick, GMC in IntelliLink form

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Crossover, Buick, GM, GMC

IntelliLink for Buick and GMC

IntelliLink for Buick and GMC – Click above for high-res image gallery

As expected, General Motors will begin rolling out MyLink later this year, and GM has expanded
the connectivity system to include the 2012 Buick Verano, Regal and LaCrosse, along with the 2012 GMC Terrain.

GM has changed the branding of its SYNC competitor to IntelliLink for Buick and GMC models, although the features and functionality remain the same.

Voice commands – powered by Nuance technology – allow users to control phone functionality, radio stations and MP3 players through a natural language system, while Gracenote pulls in track listings and album art, Pandora, Stitcher and XM stream the tunes, and a standard rear-vision camera (on the Terrain) lets you keep tabs on what’s coming up from behind.

Better iPhone and Android integration through a combination of USB and Bluetooth control is part of the package, and buyers of the youth-focused Verano will get IntelliLink as standard at first, with the system coming to the Regal and LaCrosse later this year. However, Enclave buyers will have to wait for its refreshening in 2013 before getting their hands on the system. Full details on both the Buick and GMC integration in the press release after the break.

Gallery: IntelliLink for Buick and GMC

Continue reading Chevrolet MyLink comes to Buick, GMC in IntelliLink form

Chevrolet MyLink comes to Buick, GMC in IntelliLink form originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2011 GMC Acadia Denali

Filed under: Crossover, GMC, Reviews, Luxury

Expanding The Brand Beyond Trucks and SUVs

2011 GMC Acadia Denali

2011 GMC Acadia Denali – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Denali brand began as a luxury trim package for the 1998 GMC Yukon, whereupon it quickly became apparent that affluent buyers would pony up for big wheels and large quantities of chrome. In fact, the Denali was so successful that GM designers penned a new, bolder front end, rearranged some body panels and the more expensive Cadillac Escalade was born. Over the years, the Denali brand also migrated to the Sierra pickup, yet despite the brand’s popularity, the growth inexplicably stopped there.

That’s changed for 2011, as GMC has breathed new life into its Denali franchise with a high-rent Acadia. Does the long-successful brand have the staying power to move away from boxy SUVs and trucks in favor of a kinder, gentler crossover?

Continue reading Review: 2011 GMC Acadia Denali

Gallery: 2011 GMC Acadia Denali: First Drive

2011 GMC Acadia Denali2011 GMC Acadia Denali2011 GMC Acadia Denali2011 GMC Acadia Denali2011 GMC Acadia Denali

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 GMC Acadia Denali

Review: 2011 GMC Acadia Denali originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #218: 2012 Honda Civic, BMW “i”, Chevy MyLink, and GMC Granite

Filed under: Podcasts, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Dodge, GMC, Honda, Rumormill

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Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Autoblog Podcast #218 is here, and Chris, Dan, Chris Paukert and Zach return to talk about Chevrolet MyLink, the GMC Granite’s rumored re-greenlighting, the 2012 Honda Civic and BMW’s new “i” sub-brand. Questions and feedback wrap it up, and it’s an hour and thirty-three minutes of fun this week. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #218: 2012 Honda Civic, BMW “i”, Chevy MyLink, and GMC Granite

  • Chevrolet MyLink
  • 2012 Civic
  • GMC Granite Confirmed again
  • BMW’s new “i” sub-brand

In the Autoblog Garage:


2011 Ram 1500
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ RS
2011 Dodge Durango Crew AWD
2011 Audi A6

  • Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert

Runtime: 01:33:00


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Autoblog Podcast #218: 2012 Honda Civic, BMW “i”, Chevy MyLink, and GMC Granite originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GMC Granite confirmed… again

Filed under: Hatchback, GM, GMC

GMC Granite

GMC Granite concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Many moons ago, Motor Trend reported that the funky GMC Granite concept from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show had been given the go for production. Immediately after, however, MT stated that while it strongly believed that the Granite would be produced, the publication had yet to receive an official green light from its sources within General Motors. That changes today, apparently.

Motor Trend is reporting yet again that the Granite has been confirmed for production, even going so far to say that the road-going car will keep the rear-hinged suicide door setup of the concept. This new confirmation reportedly comes from a “well-placed source” within the automaker, who also says that the Granite will be built on the same C-segment platform as the Chevrolet Volt, Cruze and Buick Verano.

When GM debuted the Granite concept, it used the same 138-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four as the Cruze, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. This powerplant would certainly make sense for the production car, though MT suggests that even the automaker’s 177-horsepower 2.4-liter four from the Verano would be a good fit. Regardless, we’ll wait until GM issues an official statement before we start gearing up for the first drive.

Gallery: GMC Granite Concept

[Source: Motor Trend]

Report: GMC Granite confirmed… again originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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