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GMC Sierra Elevation Edition is a dark take on a tough truck

GMC proved that it knew how to make a mean-looking pickup with the 2015 Sierra Elevation Edition. For the 2016 model year, the company is applying that aggressiveness to the refreshed Sierra that already looks tougher than the predecessor. The result is a seriously brawny truck that hits the market in the first quarter of 2016. Still based on the Sierra Double Cab, this latest take on the Elevation Edition starts with all of the styling tweaks for the standard 2016 truck, including a reshaped grille and headlights. From there, the pickup gets monochromatic with body-color parts for the door handles, mirror caps, grille surround, and bumpers. Black, 20-inch wheels finish the aggressive aesthetic. Drivers get an interior packed with tech, complete with a six-speaker stereo and seven-inch infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All the occupants can also stay connected anywhere with OnStar 4G LTE and a WiFi hotspot. Under the hood, the Elevation Edition comes standard with a 4.3-liter V6 making 285 horsepower and 305 pound-feet of torque. A 5.3-liter V8 with 355 horsepower is also optional. Regardless of the powerplant, both come with a locking rear differential and the choice of two- or four-wheel drive. Check out the video below for a closer look at last year's truck, then scroll just a little bit further for the complete press release from GMC. Related Video: GMC Updates Sierra Elevation Edition for 2016 Sport appearance wears new front-end design, latest connectivity technologies DETROIT – The popular GMC Sierra Elevation Edition returns for 2016 with the styling enhancements and other features new to the entire Sierra 1500 lineup – including revised front-end styling with new, high-intensity discharge projector-beam headlamps and GMC Signature LED lighting. The Elevation Edition – available on Sierra double cab – has a street-smart stance, thanks to body-color moldings, door handles, mirror caps and a body-color grille surround, as well as body-color bumpers. It also rolls on 20-inch black-painted aluminum wheels and is further enhanced with new Elevation Edition badging. "The Sierra Elevation Edition offers a boldly styled pickup for customers who want a truck that looks as good as it performs," said Duncan Aldred, U.S. vice president, Buick and GMC.

GM also sheds parts from its pickups to boost payload ratings

The row between Ford and Ram over who boasts the best-in-class tow rating for heavy duty pickups has revealed a number of things. Chief among them is a report that Ford removes items like the spare tire, jack, radio and center console from its vehicles in a bid to lower its base curb weight and therefore keep the truck's gross vehicle weight rating down.
For those that need a refresher, GVWR is the vehicle's curb weight plus its maximum payload. A lower GVWR allows Ford to station its F-450 among the so-called Class III pickups, despite the fact that internally, it has the makings of a more brutish Class IV truck.
Ford explains away these deletions, saying a customer could order their vehicle in such a manner. It has also come to light that Ford is not the only automaker to engage in such practices.

Next-gen Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra may use carbon fiber

It's been generally accepted that the next generation of full-size GM trucks will use some sort of strong, lightweight material for the beds while retaining steel for the cab. While aluminum seems like the most obvious choice, according to Automotive News, the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra will incorporate both aluminum and carbon fiber in their beds. The publication cites sources from within GM, though it seems the introduction of this comparatively exotic material mix is still a few years off. While carbon fiber is both stronger and lighter than steel and aluminum, it takes significantly more time and money to produce, essentially relegating the material to small-volume cars. The main benefit for trucks is the resulting reduction in weight to improve fuel economy without sacrificing the tough, rugged capabilities truck buyers expect. The Ford F-150 made the switch to aluminum for the 2015 model year and it's proved highly successful. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before the competition followed suit. Automotive News says that the next-gen trucks will launch with aluminum beds and that it will take a couple of years before we'll see any carbon fiber incorporated into the design. Even then, only look for the composite material on higher-trim models, with a trickle down to lower-spec trucks possible further in the future. In 2011, GM announced it was working with Japan-based Teijin Limited on a carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic. There's a good chance that material's introduction will be on trucks. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News Plants/Manufacturing Rumormill Chevrolet GM GMC Truck